Category: Renewable Hydrogen

MIL-Evening Report: ‘Active recovery’ after exercise is supposed to improve performance – but does it really work?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South Australia

gpointstudio/Shutterstock

Imagine you have just finished a workout. Your legs are like jelly, your lungs are burning and you just want to collapse on the couch.

But instead, you pick yourself up and go for a brisk walk.

While this might seem counterintuitive, doing some light activity after an intense workout – known as “active recovery” – has been suggested to reduce soreness and speed up recovery after exercise.

But does it work or is it just another fitness myth?

What is active recovery?

Active recovery simply describes doing some low-intensity physical activity after a strenuous bout of exercise.

This is commonly achieved through low-intensity cardio, such as walking or cycling, but can also consist of low-intensity stretching, or even bodyweight exercises such as squats and lunges.

The key thing is making sure the intensity is light or moderate, without moving into the “vigorous” range.

As a general rule, if you can maintain a conversation while you’re exercising, you are working at a light-to-moderate intensity.

Some people consider doing an easy training session on their “rest days” as a form of active recovery. However, this has not really been researched. So we will be focusing on the more traditional form of active recovery in this article, where it is performed straight after exercise.

What does active recovery do?

Active recovery helps speed up the removal of waste products, such as lactate and hydrogen, after exercise. These waste products are moved from the muscles into the blood, before being broken down and used for energy, or simply excreted.

This is thought to be one of the ways it promotes recovery.

In some instances active recovery has been shown to reduce muscle soreness in the days following exercise. This may lead to a faster return to peak performance in some physical capabilities such as jump height.

Active recovery can involve stretching.
fatir29/Shutterstock

But, active recovery does not appear to reduce post-exercise inflammation. While this may sound like a bad thing, it’s not.

Post-exercise inflammation can promote increases in strength and fitness after exercise. And so when it’s reduced (say, by using ice baths after exercise) this can lead to smaller training improvements than would be seen otherwise.

This means active recovery can be used regularly after exercise without the risk of affecting the benefits of the main exercise session.

There’s evidence to the contrary too

Not all research on active recovery is positive.

Several studies indicate it’s no better than simply lying on the couch when it comes to reducing muscle soreness and improving performance after exercise.

In fact, there’s more research suggesting active recovery doesn’t have an effect than research showing it does have an effect.

While there could be several reasons for this, two stand out.

First, the way in which active recovery is applied in the research varies as lot. It’s likely there is a sweet spot in terms of how long active recovery should last to maximise its benefits (more on this later).

Second, it’s likely the benefits of active recovery are trivial to small. As such, they won’t always be considered “significant” in the scientific literature, despite offering potentially meaningful benefits at an individual level. In sport science, studies often have small sample sizes, which can make it hard to see small effects.

But there doesn’t seem to be any research suggesting active recovery is less effective than doing nothing, so at worst it certainly won’t cause any harm.

When is active recovery useful?

Active recovery appears useful if you need to perform multiple bouts of exercise within a short time frame. For example, if you were in a tournament and had 10–20 minutes between games, then a quick active recovery would be better than doing nothing.

Active recovery might also be a useful strategy if you have to perform exercise again within 24 hours after intense activity.

For example, if you are someone who plays sport and you need to play games on back-to-back days, doing some low-intensity active recovery after each game might help reduce soreness and improve performance on subsequent days.

Similarly, if you are training for an event like a marathon and you have a training session the day after a particularly long or intense run, then active recovery might get you better prepared for your next training session.

Conversely, if you have just completed a low-to-moderate intensity bout of exercise, it’s unlikely active recovery will offer the same benefits. And if you will get more than 24 hours of rest between exercise sessions, active recovery is unlikely to do much because this will probably be long enough for your body to recover naturally anyway.

Active recovery may be useful for people with back-to-back sporting commitments.
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

How to get the most out of active recovery

The good news is you don’t have to do a lot of active recovery to see a benefit.

A systematic review looking at the effectiveness of active recovery across 26 studies found 6–10 minutes of exercise was the sweet spot when it came to enhancing recovery.

Interestingly, the intensity of exercise didn’t seem to matter. If it was within this time frame, it had a positive effect.

So it makes sense to make your active recovery easy (because why would you make it hard if you don’t have to?) by keeping it in the light-to-moderate intensity range.

However, don’t expect active recovery to be a complete game changer. The research would suggest the benefits are likely to be small at best.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. ‘Active recovery’ after exercise is supposed to improve performance – but does it really work? – https://theconversation.com/active-recovery-after-exercise-is-supposed-to-improve-performance-but-does-it-really-work-250068

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: ‘Active recovery’ after exercise is supposed to improve performance – but does it really work?

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South Australia

gpointstudio/Shutterstock

Imagine you have just finished a workout. Your legs are like jelly, your lungs are burning and you just want to collapse on the couch.

But instead, you pick yourself up and go for a brisk walk.

While this might seem counterintuitive, doing some light activity after an intense workout – known as “active recovery” – has been suggested to reduce soreness and speed up recovery after exercise.

But does it work or is it just another fitness myth?

What is active recovery?

Active recovery simply describes doing some low-intensity physical activity after a strenuous bout of exercise.

This is commonly achieved through low-intensity cardio, such as walking or cycling, but can also consist of low-intensity stretching, or even bodyweight exercises such as squats and lunges.

The key thing is making sure the intensity is light or moderate, without moving into the “vigorous” range.

As a general rule, if you can maintain a conversation while you’re exercising, you are working at a light-to-moderate intensity.

Some people consider doing an easy training session on their “rest days” as a form of active recovery. However, this has not really been researched. So we will be focusing on the more traditional form of active recovery in this article, where it is performed straight after exercise.

What does active recovery do?

Active recovery helps speed up the removal of waste products, such as lactate and hydrogen, after exercise. These waste products are moved from the muscles into the blood, before being broken down and used for energy, or simply excreted.

This is thought to be one of the ways it promotes recovery.

In some instances active recovery has been shown to reduce muscle soreness in the days following exercise. This may lead to a faster return to peak performance in some physical capabilities such as jump height.

Active recovery can involve stretching.
fatir29/Shutterstock

But, active recovery does not appear to reduce post-exercise inflammation. While this may sound like a bad thing, it’s not.

Post-exercise inflammation can promote increases in strength and fitness after exercise. And so when it’s reduced (say, by using ice baths after exercise) this can lead to smaller training improvements than would be seen otherwise.

This means active recovery can be used regularly after exercise without the risk of affecting the benefits of the main exercise session.

There’s evidence to the contrary too

Not all research on active recovery is positive.

Several studies indicate it’s no better than simply lying on the couch when it comes to reducing muscle soreness and improving performance after exercise.

In fact, there’s more research suggesting active recovery doesn’t have an effect than research showing it does have an effect.

While there could be several reasons for this, two stand out.

First, the way in which active recovery is applied in the research varies as lot. It’s likely there is a sweet spot in terms of how long active recovery should last to maximise its benefits (more on this later).

Second, it’s likely the benefits of active recovery are trivial to small. As such, they won’t always be considered “significant” in the scientific literature, despite offering potentially meaningful benefits at an individual level. In sport science, studies often have small sample sizes, which can make it hard to see small effects.

But there doesn’t seem to be any research suggesting active recovery is less effective than doing nothing, so at worst it certainly won’t cause any harm.

When is active recovery useful?

Active recovery appears useful if you need to perform multiple bouts of exercise within a short time frame. For example, if you were in a tournament and had 10–20 minutes between games, then a quick active recovery would be better than doing nothing.

Active recovery might also be a useful strategy if you have to perform exercise again within 24 hours after intense activity.

For example, if you are someone who plays sport and you need to play games on back-to-back days, doing some low-intensity active recovery after each game might help reduce soreness and improve performance on subsequent days.

Similarly, if you are training for an event like a marathon and you have a training session the day after a particularly long or intense run, then active recovery might get you better prepared for your next training session.

Conversely, if you have just completed a low-to-moderate intensity bout of exercise, it’s unlikely active recovery will offer the same benefits. And if you will get more than 24 hours of rest between exercise sessions, active recovery is unlikely to do much because this will probably be long enough for your body to recover naturally anyway.

Active recovery may be useful for people with back-to-back sporting commitments.
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

How to get the most out of active recovery

The good news is you don’t have to do a lot of active recovery to see a benefit.

A systematic review looking at the effectiveness of active recovery across 26 studies found 6–10 minutes of exercise was the sweet spot when it came to enhancing recovery.

Interestingly, the intensity of exercise didn’t seem to matter. If it was within this time frame, it had a positive effect.

So it makes sense to make your active recovery easy (because why would you make it hard if you don’t have to?) by keeping it in the light-to-moderate intensity range.

However, don’t expect active recovery to be a complete game changer. The research would suggest the benefits are likely to be small at best.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. ‘Active recovery’ after exercise is supposed to improve performance – but does it really work? – https://theconversation.com/active-recovery-after-exercise-is-supposed-to-improve-performance-but-does-it-really-work-250068

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “India’s commitment to Global Maritime Sustainability in sync with PM Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat”: Sarbananda Sonowal

Source: Government of India

“India’s commitment to Global Maritime Sustainability in sync with PM Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat”: Sarbananda Sonowal

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates the Green Shipping Conclave, 2025

Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez highlights Strategic role of India in Global Shipping

Posted On: 20 FEB 2025 8:54PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal reaffirmed India’s commitment to global maritime sustainability and international cooperation while speaking after inaugurating the Green Shipping Conclave, 2025 in Mumbai today. The conclave was also attended by the Secretary General of International Maritime Organisation (IMO), His Excellency Arsenio Dominguez — a gesture appreciated by the Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal terming it a new milestone in India and IMO partnership for global maritime sustainability.

Speaking at the event, the Union Minister, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “India stands at the forefront of a global maritime revolution—one that prioritise sustainability, innovation, and environmental stewardship. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we are not just adapting to change; we are driving it. Through initiatives like the ‘Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines’, the ‘Green Tug Transition Programme’, and the ‘National Green Hydrogen Mission’, we are transforming our ports and shipping industry into beacons of sustainability. The recently announced ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund is aimed at catalysing investments in green infrastructure, alternative fuels, and fleet modernisation, ensuring that India remains a leader in decarbonisation. Sustainability is not merely a regulatory obligation—it is an economic opportunity and a moral responsibility. As we build strategic green corridors and enhance international collaborations with IMO and BIMSTEC, our message to the world is clear: India is committed to a cleaner, greener, and more resilient maritime future. India committed to Global Maritime Sustainability in sync with PM Narendra Modi ji’s vision of Viksit Bharat.”

The Green Shipping Conclave, 2025 marked a pivotal moment in India’s green maritime transition. The conclave served as a high-impact platform for policy dialogues, technical discussions, and roundtable meetings, engaging key stakeholders from the industry, government, and academia. Among the significant discussions, the IMO Secretary-General chaired a CEO Round Table on Renewable Energy, focusing on clean fuel investments and green port infrastructure.

The Union Minister of State, Shri Shantanu Thakur highlighted India’s ambitious green shipping initiatives under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shantanu Thakur said, “India is leading the maritime sector’s green transformation through clean energy, sustainable ports, and innovative shipbuilding. With bold policies, global collaborations, and investments in alternative fuels, we are setting new benchmarks for decarbonisation. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the ministry has chalked out the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which are the blueprint towards empowering our maritime sector and enabling it to become greener, cleaner and sustainable. Together, we are shaping a resilient, eco-friendly maritime future.”

Key areas of focus included Green Energy promoting cleaner fuels like green hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels, and LNG through the National Green Hydrogen Mission. It also held discussions on Green Ships with advancements in low emissions, hybrid, and fully electric vessels with the government programmes like Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) and Harit Nauka initiative. The conclave also highlighted India’s effort to convergence of Green Ports with policy initiatives like Sustainable Ship Recycling Programme at Alang, adhering to Hong Kong Convention standards.

His Excellency Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary General of IMO acknowledged India’s strategic role in global shipping, highlighting its contributions towards sustainable maritime development, alternative energy solutions, and international regulatory collaboration.

The valedictory session, presided over by the Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Shri Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, outlined India’s roadmap for a sustainable maritime future. In his concluding remarks, His Excellency, Arsenio Dominguez reiterated the IMO’s commitment to supporting India’s maritime transition through capacity-building, financial mechanisms, and technical cooperation. The Green Shipping Conclave 2025 and the IMO Secretary-General’s visit reinforced India’s position as a global leader in sustainable maritime practices. These engagements have deepened India-IMO cooperation, paving the way for advancements in decarbonization, alternative fuels, and digital transformation in the maritime industry.

The Green Shipping Conclave, 2025 was organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, the Directorate General of Shipping, the Institute of Marine Engineers (India). The conclave aimed at converging pioneering ideas and perspective to shape India’s leadership in maritime innovation, environmental sustainability and regulatory advancements aligning with the global goals of collective decarbonisation effort.

***

G.D. Hallikeri / Henry

(Release ID: 2105136) Visitor Counter : 12

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: President von der Leyen at the CARICOM Leaders’ Summit to strengthen partnership between the European Union and the Caribbean

Source: European Commission

European Commission Press release Brussels, 20 Feb 2025 During the first-ever visit of a European Commission President to the Caribbean, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to deepening its relations and partnership with the region.

At the invitation of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chair, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, President von der Leyen met the 15 leaders of the Caribbean Community during the 48th Regular Meeting of the CARICOM. The visit aims at further strengthening the EU’s presence in the region and lay the groundwork for the EU-CELAC Summit, planned for later this year.

In a new era of harsh geostrategic competition, Europe stands for openness, partnership and outreach. The visit took place in the context of the Commission’s effort to build new partnerships and strengthen old ones, which includes recent agreements with Mercosur, Mexico and Malaysia.

President von der Leyen said: “Europe and the Caribbean may be an ocean apart, but we are close allies. We share so many interests and values, including our mutual support for Ukraine. Europe stands with the Caribbean countries in the fight against climate change, protecting nature and biodiversity, strengthening trade, and boosting investments through Global Gateway. Europe wants to be a fair and trusted partner for all regions of the world that want to work with us.”

President von der Leyen also discussed with Caribbean partners the situation in Haiti. She underlined the EU’s commitment to Haiti’s recovery and security and its support to CARICOM efforts in this regard. In this context, a package of €19.5 million EU support was announced during the visit. This new financial support will complement ongoing efforts to deliver essential services to Haitians as well as support the country’s macroeconomic stability.

President von der Leyen highlighted the EU’s commitment to supporting Caribbean partners in fighting climate change and its devastating impact on the islands. As the leading provider of climate finance, the EU is determined to work together on innovative financing, while promoting private sector investments.

At global level, the EU and the Caribbean are stepping up their energy partnership following the launch of the Global Energy Transition Forum by President von der Leyen in Davos last month. She welcomed the 8 countries (Barbados, Guyana, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica)* that joined the forum during the summit, committing to action to meet the global targets of tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.

During the visit, President von der Leyen underscored the reliability of the EU as a trade and investment partner to the region working together on mutually beneficial projects. President von der Leyen launched several projects under Europe’s Global Gateway strategy on renewable energy, digital transformation, pharmaceutical production and economic resilience. The projects will invest in a stronger, greener and better connected Caribbean.

Key Global Gateway projects in the Caribbean

Expanding Renewable Energy: Global Gateway energy projects are underway in 13 Caribbean countries, leveraging European expertise, technology, and financing tools. In this context, President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Mottley announced a €160 million green hydrogen storage project by the French company HDF Energy, the first of its kind in the Caribbean.

Advancing the Digital Agenda: The EU and the Caribbean are strengthening their digital partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Caribbean and the European satellite company Hispasat during the CARICOM meeting. It will improve the Caribbean’s satellite internet connectivity and sovereignty within the framework of the EU–LAC Digital Alliance. As part of this initiative, the EU and Spain will provide a €10 million grant to support satellite broadband expansion and promote digital inclusion across the region.

Developing Local Pharmaceutical Production: The EU’s €8.9 million investment to promote local production and regulatory alignment with European standards was also taken forward in the framework of the CARICOM meeting. A joint declaration to cooperate on twinning Caribbean and EU regulatory agencies, capacity-building initiatives, and research collaborations was signed during the meeting. Additionally, the first investment from a European pharmaceutical company, Biomed X in Barbados, will support research and manufacturing, further reinforcing the region’s health resilience.

Supporting Post-Hurricane Reconstruction: As part of the assistance given to Grenada in rebuilding Carriacou and Petite Martinique after Hurricane Beryl, the EU is supporting the islands to become 100% powered by renewable energy. This initiative will serve as a global model for small islands striving for climate resilience.

Combating the Sargassum Challenge: The EU, in collaboration with regional partners, is transforming the environmental and economic challenge of sargassum seaweed into an opportunity for sustainable development. Through an ongoing €386 million Global Gateway initiative, the EU is working with financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank and the private sector to develop sustainable value chains for sargassum, particularly in Grenada.

For More Information

Opening remarks by President von der Leyen at the opening ceremony of the 48th Regular Session of the Conference of CARICOM

Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Barbadian Prime Minister Mottley

* Updated on 20/02/2025 at 14:55

Quote(s)

Europe and the Caribbean may be an ocean apart, but we are close allies. We share so many interests and values, including our mutual support for Ukraine. Europe stands with the Caribbean countries in the fight against climate change, protecting nature and biodiversity, strengthening trade, and boosting investments through Global Gateway. Europe wants to be a fair and trusted partner for all regions of the world that want to work with us.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Great British Energy interim CEO appointed
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Dan McGrail has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive Officer of Great British Energy.
Dan McGrail appointed as interim CEO of Great British Energy, working from the Aberdeen HQ

Follows recent appointment of five non-executive directors to the start-up board

New leadership will help the company drive forward the government’s Plan for Change and clean energy superpower mission

Dan McGrail has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive Officer of Great British Energy, to help drive forward the government’s Plan for Change and clean energy superpower mission.

Great British Energy is owned by the British people, for the British people, and will own and invest in clean energy projects across the UK to create good, skilled jobs and growth.  

Dan McGrail is currently the Chief Executive of RenewableUK, the trade association for businesses developing wind, wave, tidal, storage and green hydrogen projects in the UK, and their supply chain companies. He currently sits on the board for WindEurope and was also previously CEO of Siemens Engines and Managing Director of Siemens Power Generation.

He will draw on his wealth of experience in clean energy including wind and thermal power to provide strong leadership and help rapidly scale up the new company so it can start delivering as quickly as possible.

This follows the appointment in January of five new non-executive directors to join Chair Juergen Maier on the company’s start-up board, bringing a wide range of experience across different sectors, with knowledge on workplace rights, building UK supply chains and driving investment in clean energy.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

With the appointment of Dan McGrail as interim CEO we now have a fantastic team in place to lead Great British Energy and start delivering on our Plan for Change.

Great British Energy is at the heart of our clean power mission, and will support thousands of well-paid jobs, drive growth and investment into our communities and deliver energy security for the British people.

I look forward to working with Dan as we unlock the benefits of a new era of clean electricity for the British people.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said:

Homegrown, affordable clean power has never been more important and it’s a privilege to take up the role of interim CEO of Great British Energy at such a pivotal moment.

Together with the talented leadership team, I’m excited to hit the ground running to scale up the company and work with industry to unleash billions of investment in clean energy, helping to grow new industries at scale with job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people, as well as helping the government achieve its clean power targets.

Start-up Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier said:

Dan brings invaluable experience from a long career in clean energy and joins Great British Energy at a critical time to help spearhead our work to help make Britain energy independent.

I look forward to working with him to back innovation, create sustainable jobs, and grow our supply chains.

The Chair of RenewableUK’s Board of Directors Paul Cooley, Director of Offshore Wind at SSE Renewables, said:

I am delighted to support Dan in taking on the role of Interim CEO. He has the right combination of leadership skills and energy industry experience to take Great British Energy to its next stage of maturity and he has been an important driving force throughout his career in the sector. He has transformed RenewableUK into a leading voice in the industry and his appointment is a great vote of confidence in the work of the organisation. I am sure that he will establish a strategy at Great British Energy which enables our country to deliver on the amazing opportunities for economic growth and job creation which the clean power transition offers.

Dan will be based in Scotland, working from the Aberdeen headquarters, and will take up his post in March, on an initial 6-month contract, on secondment from RenewableUK. Recruitment for the permanent CEO will also begin shortly.

The government has already announced an unprecedented partnership between Great British Energy and The Crown Estate to unlock investment in clean energy, confirmed Aberdeen will host Great British Energy’s headquarters, and struck a deal with the Scottish Government for the company to work with Scottish public bodies to support clean energy supply chains. The government is also legislating through the Great British Energy Bill to give the company the powers it needs to rapidly deliver.

Great British Energy will support the government’s mission for clean power by 2030, with an action plan published in December to get more homegrown clean power to people and provide the foundation for the UK to build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good.

Background

Dan McGrail took up his post as Chief Executive at RenewableUK in May 2021, and was previously CEO of Siemens Engines. He joined Siemens UK in 2004 and worked in a variety of roles across the energy industry, becoming CEO in 2017.

More information on the non-executive directors: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/great-british-energys-start-up-board-appointed

The Great British Energy Bill is currently going through the House of Lords and is at the Committee Stage.

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Published 20 February 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI: Haffner Energy and ATOBA Energy collaborate to unlock the SAF value chain and scale the market
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

This strategic partnership secures long-term offtake agreements, unlocking financing and accelerating the scale-up of SAF production.

Vitry-le-François, France / Lyon, France (February 20, 2025, 6:00pm CEST)

Haffner Energy, a leading solid biomass-to-clean fuels solutions provider, and ATOBA Energy, a SAF aggregator committed to unlocking the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) value chain by solving the financial dilemma between producers and final offtakers, are joining forces to accelerate the development of SAF projects and facilitate their financing, they announced today.

France-based Haffner Energy relies on its 31-year experience to design, manufacture, supply, license, and operate proprietary disruptive clean fuels solutions, including critical technology for SAF production, using all types of biomass residues wet or dry, such as agricultural and municipal waste. The company has already announced the development of a couple of SAF projects, notably Paris-Vatry SAF in France, where full scale production is expected to be reached by 2030 when the next stage of the European SAF mandate kicks in. Partnering with SAF aggregator ATOBA will significantly enhance SAF offtake then.

“We are particularly excited about this partnership with ATOBA, as it will facilitate the financing of our SAF projects, starting with Paris-Vatry. One of the most crucial challenges in securing financing for SAF production facilities is the ability to obtain offtake contracts that guarantee the purchase of SAF at a stable, price for periods exceeding five years. The key advantage provided by ATOBA is that it offers this guarantee while significantly reducing risks and commitments for airline clients. This will facilitate and accelerate their engagement in SAF procurement. As such, it is a win-win model for all stakeholders and we are extremely pleased that ATOBA has identified us as a strategic and unique player in the SAF ecosystem”, said Haffner Energy co-founder and CEO Philippe Haffner.

Indeed, the SAF market is facing challenges in expanding at the rate demanded by environmental needs and regulatory mandates. While producers need long-term, stable pricing contracts to amortize their investments, airlines seek assurance of optimum market prices in the context of a still-immature industry with diverse competing technologies. This conflict of expectations currently hinders the development of SAF production projects, and ATOBA’s unique business model brings the solution.

“We are delighted to launch an offtake agreement with Haffner Energy, a company that has demonstrated for decades the quality and robustness of its biomass transformation technological and industrial solutions. Haffner Energy plays a key role in unlocking second-generation feedstocks, which are essential for both Alcohol-to-Jet and Gas Fischer-Tropsch SAF pathways. At ATOBA, we strongly believe that a variety of technologies and pathways are required to meet our aviation decarbonization targets, as the best production route and feedstock depend on the specific regional characteristics. Having Haffner Energy in our portfolio of SAF producers is an essential brick in our aggregation strategy, reinforcing our ability to provide diversified, reliable, and scalable SAF solutions to the market”, highlighted ATOBA Energy co-founder and CEO Arnaud Namer.

Also based in France, ATOBA uniquely unlocks the SAF financial stalemate through its upstream and downstream SAF offtake portfolio management. By offtaking from diversified producers and technologies like Haffner Energy, ATOBA mitigates technological and pricing risks associated with the various SAF production pathways, and enables the closing of long-term offtake agreements among airlines, jet-fuel distributors, SAF producers, and financial institutions, which are essential for scaling the industry.

About Haffner Energy

Haffner Energy designs, manufactures, supplies, and operates biofuel and hydrogen solutions using biomass residues. Its innovative, patented thermolysis technology produces Logo Blue ATOBA Energy – small Sustainable Aviation Fuel, as well as renewable gas, hydrogen, and methanol. The company also contributes to regenerating the planet through the co-production of biogenic CO₂ and biochar. A family-owned company co-founded 32 years ago by Marc and Philippe Haffner, Haffner Energy has been working from the outset to decarbonize industry and all forms of mobility, as well as governments and local communities. Further information is available at www.haffner-energy.com.

About ATOBA Energy

ATOBA is the midstream Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) aggregator focused on accelerating the aviation industry’s energy transition through solving the financial dilemma between airlines and producers. ATOBA provides long-term SAF contracts to airlines and jet-fuel resellers at optimized market SAF pricing indexes. The company brings high security and competitiveness to the SAF supply chain for its airline partners via offtake from diversified producers and technologies, as well as best-in-class sector expertise. Simultaneously, ATOBA’s aggregation strategy allows the SAF industry to scale by providing producers with long-term offtake agreements that support their Final Investment Decisions for their SAF production plants. Further information is available at www.atoba.energy

Media relations

Haffner Energy laetitia.mailhes@haffner-energy.com tel. +33 (0)6 07 12 96 76

ATOBA Energy press@atoba.energy tel. +33 (0)6 11 65 92 74

Investor relations

Haffner Energy investisseurs@haffner-energy.com

ATOBA Energy investors@atoba.energy tel. +1 310 874 7871

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The MIL Network –
February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: ACP Announces 2025 Board of Directors

Source: American Clean Power Association (ACP)

Headline: ACP Announces 2025 Board of Directors

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 20, 2025 — The American Clean Power Association (ACP), the clean energy industry’s leading trade organization, has announced its new 2025 Officers, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee.
ACP’s new Board features executives from diverse industries investing in America, including leaders across solar, storage, offshore and land-based wind, clean hydrogen, and transmission, as well as manufacturers, financial firms, utilities, construction companies, and developers.
“After many years with the organization, I am honored to now serve as ACP Board Chair and eager to tackle the challenges facing the renewable energy industry,” said Laura Beane, ACP Board Chair and President of Vestas North America. “Our nation requires an all-of-the-above energy approach to drive development, strengthen U.S. energy dominance, and create generational jobs for Americans across the country. I believe this Board is well-equipped to deliver solutions that will advance our priorities and accelerate domestic energy growth to meet the surge in demand.”
The new Board and Officers were approved at ACP’s February Board meeting and will serve a one-year term. They include:
Chair: Laura Beane, President, Vestas North America 
Chair-Elect: David Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer, ENGIE North America
Treasurer: Brian Van Abel, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Xcel Energy 
Secretary: David Hardy, Global Chief Commercial Officer, GE Vernova Wind
“During a period of rapid demand growth and a push for American energy dominance, leadership in the energy industry has never been more consequential. The 2025 ACP Board represents a wide-ranging group of strong leaders who are meeting the moment,” said ACP CEO Jason Grumet. “Harnessing America’s diverse energy resources is essential to our national security and global power. The ACP Board encourages collaboration across all energy sectors and will drive the policies and innovations needed to contribute to an all-of-the-above energy strategy, strengthen our economy, and secure America’s energy future.”
The ACP Board has also selected a new Executive Committee. Along with the Officers, the committee will include executives from these clean energy-focused companies:
AES Clean Energy: Kleber Costa, Chief Commercial Officer
Array Technologies: Kevin Hostetler, Chief Executive Officer
Avangrid Renewables: Puneet Verma, Vice President, Federal Government Affairs
BHE Renewables: Alicia R. Knapp, President and CEO
Dominion Energy: Mark Mitchell, SVP of Project Construction
ENGIE North America: David Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer
Fluence: John Zahurancik, President Americas
Form Energy: Mateo Jaramillo, CEO and Co‐Founder
GE Vernova Wind: David Hardy, Global Chief Commercial Officer
Grid United: Alistair Vickers, Chief Operating Officer
Intersect Power: Sheldon Kimber, CEO, Founder
Invenergy: Jim Murphy, President & Co-Founder
ITC Holdings Corp.: Krista Tanner, President
LS Power: Paul Segal, Chief Executive Officer
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC: Philip A. Musser, Vice President – Head of Government Affairs
Southern Power: John L. Pemberton, Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer & General Counsel
Vestas North America: Laura Beane, President
Xcel Energy: Brian Van Abel, EVP & CFO
Ex Officio Roles
HASI: Susan D. Nickey, Executive Vice President & Chief Client Officer
Ørsted Wind Power North America LLC: Amanda Dasch, CEO Region Americas
The 2025 ACP Board of Directors also includes: 
American Electric Power: Greg Hall, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer
Apex Clean Energy Inc.: Ken Young, President and Chief Executive Officer
Clearway Energy Group: Craig Cornelius, President and CEO
Cypress Creek Renewables LLC: Sarah Slusser, CEO
EDF Renewables North America: Tristan Grimbert, President & Chief Executive Officer
EDP Renewables North America LLC: Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO
energyRe: Miguel Prado, Chief Executive Officer
Eolian: Stephanie Smith, COO
Equinor: Molly Morris, President, Renewables Americas
Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC: Jason Allen, Chief Executive Officer
LG Vertech: Jaehong Park, President and CEO
MasTec Inc.: Jose Mas, CEO
Mortenson: Mark Donahue, Executive Vice President
Nextracker: Dan Shugar, Founder and CEO
Nordex Group: Manav Sharma, Chief Executive Officer – North America
Pattern Energy Group Services, LP: Hunter Armistead, Chief Executive Officer
Pine Gate Renewables: Ben Catt, CEO
Quanta Services: B.J. Ducey, President of Strategic Operations
RWE Clean Energy: Andrew Flanagan, CEO
Shell New Energies US LLC: Nick Lincon, VP Onshore Renewables North America & President, Savion
SOLV Energy: George Hershman, Chief Executive Officer
TPI Composites, Inc.: Bill Siwek, President and CEO
WECS Renewables: Theresa Eaton, CEO, Chair & Owner
Xcel Energy: Brian Van Abel, EVP & CFO

MIL OSI Economics –

February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Moran, Coons Introduce Legislation to Provide Financing Options for New Energy Projects

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) reintroduced the Financing Our Energy Future Act, which expands certain financing tools to all types of energy resources and infrastructure projects. The legislation would allow renewable energy resources and infrastructure projects to form as master limited partnerships (MLPs), a tax structure currently only available to traditional energy projects.

Newly eligible energy sources would include advanced nuclear, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrogen, biodiesel, biomass, carbon capture and more.

“Being energy independent requires an all-of-the-above approach to energy production,” said Sen. Moran. “Emerging renewable energy companies currently do not have access to a number of tax incentives available to other energy companies. Expanding these incentives to more companies will increase U.S. energy production, spur innovation and help reduce prices for consumers.”

“At a time when the United States needs to boost domestic energy production, Congress should ensure all energy sources are competing on a level playing field,” said Sen. Coons. “The Financing our Energy Future Act is a straightforward, bipartisan solution that will bolster investment in American energy projects, create good-paying jobs, and accelerate our transition to cleaner energy sources.”

“NIA thanks Senator Coons and Moran for recognizing the role master limited partnerships can play in supporting our nation’s advanced nuclear energy leadership,” said Judi Greenwald, Executive Director of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance. “Their bipartisan Master Limited Partnerships legislation will help commercialize important innovations in advanced nuclear energy and other key technologies, increase U.S. competitiveness, and create jobs.”

The Energy Infrastructure Council commends Senators Moran and Coons, along with Representatives Estes and Thompson, for their leadership in introducing the Financing Our Energy Future Act (FOEFA),” said Lori Ziebart, President and CEO of the Energy Infrastructure Council. “This bipartisan legislation is one step that Congress can take this year to grow the energy economy to benefit all working-class Americans. It expands the master limited partnership (MLP) structure to include new and emerging energy sources such as hydrogen, alternative energy, carbon capture and sequestration, and renewable fuels. The MLP structure has proven to be an efficient, cost-effective method for raising capital to support the development of critical energy infrastructure and provides individuals another vehicle to invest in energy infrastructure similar to real estate investment through REITS. Expanding this framework is essential as all energy sources will be needed to ensure a reliable and secure energy future. This expansion deepens the capital pool, improves market efficiency, creates jobs and drives down costs of energy in a way that will help all Americans.”

“To strengthen its economic base and create more reliable and affordable energy, the U.S. needs tax policies that reflect the depth and breadth of America’s energy sector,” said Frank Macchiarola, American Clean Power (ACP) Association Chief Advocacy Officer. “The Financing Our Energy Future Act offers an innovative, logical approach to that challenge that will make America’s energy sector stronger and better able to serve the needs of the nation.”

“BPC Action applauds the introduction of the Financing Our Energy Future Act, an important step in incentivizing the deployment of innovative energy technologies to increase U.S. economic growth and global competitiveness,” said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action). “We commend Sens. Moran (R-KS) and Coons’ (D-DE) bipartisan leadership to level the playing field for novel energy projects—including around carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), energy storage, advanced nuclear, and waste-to-energy—to have the same tax-advantaged structures currently available to fossil fuels.”

“As the U.S. enters a period of increasing demand growth, it is important to include all forms of reliable energy in advantageous tax and financing structures to accelerate deployment and ensure grid reliability,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO of ClearPath Action. “We are excited to see advanced nuclear included in this proposal to help catalyze the next-generation of advanced reactors through access to master limited partnerships.”

An MLP is a business structure that is taxed as a partnership but whose ownership interests are traded like corporate stock on a market. By statute, MLPs are currently only available to investors in energy portfolios for oil, natural gas, coal extraction and pipeline projects. For projects to be an MLP, at least 90 percent of the project’s income must come from these sources. This legislation would amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend the publicly traded partnership ownership structure to renewable energy power generation projects.

The senators are joined in introducing this legislation by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Angus King (I-Maine), John Curtis (R-Utah), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.).

The full legislation can be read here.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 21, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Barbadian Prime Minister Mottley

Source: European Commission

European Commission Statement Bridgetown, 19 Feb 2025 Prime Minister, dear Mia,
Thank you for hosting me here in Barbados. It is indeed the first time that I am here, it is fantastic. It is a big pleasure to join you and our partners at this CARICOM Summit. I have crossed the Atlantic to share with you how much Europe values its partnership with the Caribbean. We live in an unpredictable world. In these times, it is more important than ever to stick together; to stand up for our values; and to deepen ties with friends.

Despite being an ocean apart, Europe and the Caribbean are very close at heart. We are strong and vibrant democracies; we are convinced that it is of big importance to defend multilateralism and the rule of law; we believe in freedom and the right of people to choose their own future. This is why you have been standing with Ukraine since the very beginning of the war. Ukraine is a future member of the European family. So supporting them means also supporting us. And it is important to also call for a just peace not only in Ukraine but also in the Middle East, in Sudan and Haiti, which is what you have always done.

While sharing our values, we also face some of the same challenges. When devastating hurricanes sweep through your islands, like hurricane Beryl last July, Europe wants to be by your side: We provide emergency support to those who have lost everything, we are rebuilding together. Actually, we are currently supporting Grenada to rebuild Carriacou and Petite Martinique with the goal of making the islands 100% powered by renewable energy. And we have just discussed how to strengthen our cooperation in resilience and preparedness, so to work closer together to have a foresight when these natural disasters and extreme weather events, which are often related to climate change, hit.

We know that the fight against climate change is truly existential. In the face of hardship, the Caribbean are showing incredible leadership. Especially you, my dear Mia. You have amplified the voice of small island nations on the global stage, for the benefit of all humanity. This was key, for example, to the launch of the Loss and Damage Fund together at COP29. It amounts to almost USD 750 million in pledge, half of it covered by Europe and its Member States. Because climate financing is another very important challenge. Europe is the leading provider. We contribute well beyond our fair share of the USD 100 billion annual target.

But we know that given the scale of the transition and its urgency, we need new and innovative financing tools – in addition – like green bonds and carbon and nature credits, for example, which is what we are working on. And we need to bring the private sector fully on board, with a smarter use of private and public funds. With your Bridgetown Initiative, dear Mia, you are leading the way to making green and development financing fairer, more accessible and more affordable so that the climate targets can be met.

Another initiative you mentioned is renewable energy. At COP28 we agreed on global targets for renewables and energy efficiency. We want to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency by 2030. To implement these goals, we created the Global Energy Transition Forum, because only what gets measured gets done, and we really need that the goals on paper are achieved on the ground. And this year, Barbados joined the Global Energy Transition Forum, I am very glad about that, that is great. It will allow us to deliver concrete projects on the ground and unlock more investment for the transition. And I hope that many Caribbean nations will follow your example.

This brings me to our bilateral work. The starting point for us is our investment programme Global Gateway. That is the investment programme abroad for partners. It is already at work – here in Barbados and across the Caribbean. Together with Hydrogen de France we have just signed the first green hydrogen storage project in Barbados. What is important is that renewable energy is homegrown, and therefore it is cheaper: It gives you energy independence and it gives you energy security, and it is the energy of the future, because it is clean energy.

We are, as you said, also working on the health sector. I think both of us have learnt our bitter lessons during COVID-19 and how vulnerable we are. And therefore, we support your pharmaceutical sovereignty. It means vaccines and medication produced in the Caribbean, for the Caribbean, but also to be a hub for the rest of the world. We have just signed a biomedical partnership between BioMedX, a European biotech company, and Barbados. And tomorrow, we will launch ‘PharmaNext’, a project that really boosts innovation and investments across the Atlantic. Because it also aligns the regulatory environment that is so important to move forward.

We have other great projects in the Caribbean. One has really caught my attention: In Barbados and Grenada, we are turning the sargassum threat into an opportunity, and I think it is really smart. We are working to transform this harmful alga into fertiliser, biomass and even cosmetics.This project has, and this is phenomenal, the potential to leverage almost EUR 400 million in investments. And actually, we are bringing thus a harmful alga, fighting a harmful alga but turning it into an opportunity that brings revenue. So it could not be better. Finally, we are bringing the Caribbean closer together and closer to us – with digital connectivity. Tomorrow, we will commit with Spain to deliver high-speed internet via satellite to even the most remote communities here. So the last kilometre that is always so difficult, we are going to manage that now via satellite.

To me, the spirit of Global Gateway is needed more than ever. We are investing in value chains, skills and jobs. We are sharing knowledge and technology for the benefit of both sides. We are looking into a long-term and trusted partnership. And we are convinced that a win-win situation is the most beneficial for our people and our economy.

Thank you very much again for having me here.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 21, 2025

MIL-OSI: SBM Offshore Full Year 2024 Earnings

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Amsterdam, February 20, 2025

Record-level results, increasing total shareholder returns

Highlights

Record Directional¹ Revenue of US$6.1 billion (+35%), in line with guidance
Record Directional EBITDA of US$1.9 billion (+44%), in line with guidance
Record US$35.1 billion Directional backlog; US$9.5 billion or EUR51.6/share² Directional net cash backlog³
30% increase in cash return to US$1.59 per share⁴: US$155 million dividend⁵; US$150 million share repurchase⁶
US$1.7 billion cash return to shareholders over the coming 6 years
2025 Directional Revenue guidance of above US$4.9 billion
2025 Directional EBITDA guidance of around US$1.55 billion
Completion of FPSO Prosperity and Liza Destiny sales in Q4 2024
FPSO Almirante Tamandaré achieved first oil on February 15, 2025

SBM Offshore’s 2024 Annual Report can be found on its website under: Annual Reports – SBM Offshore

Øivind Tangen, CEO of SBM Offshore, commented:

“SBM Offshore has delivered excellent results in 2024 with a record-level directional revenue of US$6.1 billion and record-level directional EBITDA of US$1.9 billion, reflecting three new awards and the purchases of FPSOs Prosperity and Liza Destiny by ExxonMobil Guyana. Thanks to the addition of three new awards, we ended the year with a record US$35.1 billion backlog. From this we expect to generate US$9.5 billion net cash, equivalent to almost 52 euro per share². Based on this strong performance, we are increasing our fixed cash return by 30% to US$1.59 per share⁴ through a proposed US$155 million dividend⁵ and US$150 million share repurchase⁶ program. At this level we will deliver a minimum US$1.7 billion cash return to shareholders over the next 6 years.

Our Fast4Ward^® program is setting the pace for deepwater developments. FPSO Almirante Tamandaré achieved first oil on February 15, 2025. This vessel, which benefits from emission reduction technologies, is the largest operating unit in Brazil. Two additional units are on track to achieve first oil in 2025. First, FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão which sailed-away at the end of 2024, followed by FPSO ONE GUYANA. These three units have a combined capacity of 655,000 barrels of oil per day. With these achievements, we are further de-risking our construction portfolio.

We strive for excellence both in terms of project execution and asset management. Our lifecycle approach in the FPSO market is unique and the focus on continuous improvement is setting a strong foundation for success. The outlook for new deepwater projects is strong given their low break-even prices and low emission intensity. In the next three years, we see 16 projects in the
Company’s core market of large and complex FPSOs, driven by the promising prospects in Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and Namibia. We have ordered our 10^th MPF hull giving us two hulls to support tendering activities. We will remain disciplined in selecting the highest quality projects.

As the world’s ocean-infrastructure expert we are using our experience to further diversify and decarbonize the solutions we offer. In 2024, we created a joint venture, Ekwil, with Technip Energies to enhance our floating offshore wind product offering, and in early 2025 we completed a minority equity investment in Ocean-Power to offer lower-emission power solutions. We are now able to offer a market ready near-zero emission FPSO and were recently awarded a contract by Petrobras to qualify SBM’s Carbon Capture Module technology for FPSOs.”

Financial Overview⁷

	Directional			IFRS

in US$ million	FY 2024	FY 2023	% Change	FY 2024	FY 2023	% Change
Revenue	6,111	4,532	35%	4,784	4,963	-4%
Lease and Operate	2,369	1,954	21%	2,074	1,563	33%
Turnkey	3,743	2,578	45%	2,710	3,400	-20%
EBITDA	1,896	1,319	44%	1,041	1,239	-16%
Lease and Operate	1,261	1,124	12%	842	695	21%
Turnkey	724	296	145%	287	646	-56%
Other	(89)	(101)	-12%	(88)	(101)	-13%
Profit attributable to Shareholders	907	524	73%	150	491	-69%
Earnings per share (US$ per share)	5.08	2.92	74%	0.84	2.74	-69%

in US$ billion	FY 2024	FY 2023	% Change	FY 2024	FY 2023	% Change
Pro-forma Backlog	35.1	30.3	16%	–	–	–
Net Debt	5.7	6.7	-15%	8.1	8.7	-7%

Directional revenue increased by 35% to US$6,111 million compared with US$4,532 million in 2023. This increase is driven by the Directional Turnkey revenue which rose to US$3,743 million in 2024 compared with US$2,578 million in 2023. This 45% increase stems from (i) the sale of FPSOs Prosperity and Liza Destiny completed respectively in November and December 2024, (ii) the progress on awarded contracts for the FPSOs Jaguar and GranMorgu, (iii) the 13.5% divestment to CMFL completed in October 2024, and (iv) the increased support to the fleet through brownfield projects. This increase was partly offset by a reduction in charter revenues following (i) the sale of FPSO Liza Unity in November 2023, (ii) the completion of FPSO Prosperity during the last quarter of 2023 as well as a delay in the start-up of FPSO Sepetiba early 2024, and (iii) a comparatively lower level of progress on both FPSOs Almirante Tamandaré and Alexandre de Gusmão as those projects approached completion in 2024.

Directional Lease and Operate revenue stood at US$2,369 million compared with US$1,954 million in the year-ago period. This 21% increase mainly reflects (i) FPSO Prosperity joining the fleet during the last quarter of 2023 and Sepetiba joining the fleet in January 2024, (ii) a higher contribution of FPSOs N’Goma, Saxi Batuque and Mondo following the acquisition of interests held by Sonangol mid-2024, and (iii) an increase in reimbursable scope. This was partly offset by FPSO Liza Unity only contributing in 2024 as an operating contract following the purchase of the unit by ExxonMobil Guyana at the end of 2023.

Directional EBITDA amounted to US$1,896 million, which is a 44% year-on-year increase compared with US$1,319 million in 2023. This was mostly attributable to the Turnkey segment which increased by over US$400 million to US$724 million in 2024. Directional Turnkey EBITDA was mainly impacted by (i) the same drivers as for Directional Turnkey revenue (except that being at relative early stages of completion, FPSO Jaguar only contributed marginally to Turnkey EBITDA and FPSO GranMorgu not at all), and (ii) a reduced investment on Floating Offshore Wind projects following the implementation of Ekwil Joint Venture in partnership with Technip Energies.

Directional Lease and Operate EBITDA stood at US$1,261 million for the year-ended 2024 compared with US$1,124 million in the previous year. The 12% increase reflects (i) the same key factors as for Directional Lease and Operate revenue, (ii) the net gain on the acquisition of interests held by Sonangol in 3 FPSOs and the divestment in the parent company of the Paenal shipyard in Angola, and (iii) the dividends related to FPSO N’Goma partially offset by (iv) additional non-recurring maintenance costs for the fleet under operation.

The other non-allocated costs charged to EBITDA amounted to US$(89) million in 2024, a US$(12) million improvement compared with the previous period mainly due to the one-off impact of US$11 million of restructuring costs in 2023.

During the last quarter of 2024, the Company performed a review of revised estimates of cash flow, maintenance and repair costs. Based on this analysis, actual values and future cash flows related to FPSO Cidade de Anchieta were re-estimated leading to an impairment charge of US$(39) million, accounted for in the 2024 results.

Directional net profit increased by over 70% standing at US$907 million in 2024, or US$5.08 per share, mainly reflecting the increase in Directional EBITDA.

Liquidity, Funding and Directional Net Debt

The Company’s financial position has remained strong as a result of the cash flow generated by the fleet, as well as the positive contribution of the Turnkey activities.

Directional Net debt decreased by US$(936) million to US$5,719 million at year-end 2024. This was driven by the repayment of the FPSOs Prosperity and Liza Destiny financings, the proceeds from the sale of the vessels and the Lease and Operate segment’s strong operating cash flow. This was partially offset by drawings on project financing facilities to fund the construction portfolio. The Company drew on the project finance facilities for FPSO ONE GUYANA, FPSO Almirante Tamandaré and FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão; additionally, the US$1.5 billion construction financing for FPSO Jaguar was signed and partly drawn in November 2024.

More than a third of the Company’s Directional debt for the year-ended 2024 consisted of non-recourse project financing (US$2.2 billion) in special purpose investees. The remainder (US$4 billion) consisted mainly of borrowings to support the ongoing construction of 3 FPSOs which will become non-recourse following achievement of first oil. The project loan for FPSO Jaguar will be repaid following completion of construction. The Company’s RCF was drawn for US$500 million as at December 31, 2024 and the Revolving Credit Facility for MPF hull financing was drawn for US$89 million.

Directional cash and cash equivalents amounted to US$606 million and lease liabilities totaled US$93 million at December 31, 2024.

Cash and undrawn committed credit facilities amount to US$2,639 million at December 31, 2024.

Directional Pro-Forma Backlog

Change in ownership scenarios and lease contract duration have the potential to significantly impact the Company’s future cash flows, net debt balance as well as the profit and loss statement. The Company therefore provides a pro-forma Directional backlog based on the best available information regarding ownership scenarios and lease contract duration for the various projects.

The pro-forma Directional backlog at the end of December 2024 increased by US$4.8 billion to a total of US$35.1 billion. This was mainly the result of (i) the FPSO Jaguar contract awarded in April 2024, (ii) the FSO Trion contract awarded in August 2024, and (iii) the FPSO GranMorgu contract awarded in November 2024, partially offset by (iv) turnover for the period which consumed approximately US$6.1 billion of backlog (including the sale of FPSO Prosperity completed in November 2024 and the sale of FPSO Liza Destiny completed in December 2024, in advance of the initial lease terms which were respectively in November 2025 and in December 2029), and (v) the 13.5% divestment to CMFL completed in October 2024, which was not reflected in the pro-forma Directional backlog end of 2023. The Company’s backlog provides cash flow visibility up to 2050.

in US$ billion	Turnkey	Lease & Operate	Total
2025	2.6	2.3	4.9
2026	1.6	2.6	4.2
2027	3.3	2.1	5.4
Beyond 2028	0.2	20.3	20.5
Total pro-forma Directional backlog	7.7	27.3	35.1

The pro-forma Directional backlog at the end of 2024 reflects the following key assumptions:

The FPSO ONE GUYANA contract covers a maximum lease period of 2 years, within which the ownership of the FPSO will transfer to the client. The impact of the subsequent sale is reflected in the Turnkey backlog.
The FPSO Jaguar contract awarded to the Company in April 2024 covers the construction period within which the FPSO ownership will transfer to the client and is reported in the Turnkey backlog.
10 years of operations and maintenance are considered for FPSOs Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, Prosperity and ONE GUYANA following signature of the Operations & Maintenance Enabling Agreement in 2023. Regarding FPSO Jaguar, the pro-forma Directional backlog includes the operating and maintenance scope for 10 years as it has been agreed in principle, pending a final work order. This is consistent with prior years.
The FPSO GranMorgu contract awarded to the Company in November 2024 covers the construction period within which the FPSO ownership will transfer to the client and is reported in the Turnkey backlog.
The FSO Trion contract awarded to the Company in August 2024 is considered for 20 years in lease and operate contracts at the Company ownership share at year-end (100%).
The transaction with MISC Berhad related to the FPSO Espírito Santo and FPSO Kikeh announced on September 6, 2024, and completed on January 31, 2025, has been reflected in the pro-forma Directional backlog.

Project Review and Fleet Operational Update

Project	Client/Country	Contract	SBM Share	Capacity, Size	Percentage of Completion	Project delivery
FPSO *Alexandre de Gusmão*	Petrobras Brazil	22.5-year L&O	55%	180,000 bpd	>75%	2025
FPSO *ONE GUYANA*	ExxonMobil Guyana	2-year BOT	100%	250,000 bpd	>75%	2025
FPSO *Jaguar*	ExxonMobil Guyana	Sale & Operate	100%	250,000 bpd	>25% <50%	2027
FSO Trion	Woodside	20-year Lease	100%	n/a	<25%	n/a⁸
FPSO *GranMorgu*	TotalEnergies	Sale & Operate	52%	220,000 bpd	<25%	2028

Projects are on track with one major delivery achieved in early 2025. After successful completion of the offshore commissioning activities, FPSO Almirante Tamandaré achieved first oil on February 15, 2025. An update on the individual ongoing projects is provided below considering the latest known circumstances.

FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão – In December 2024, the vessel safely departed from the yard in China after successful completion of the onshore topsides’ integration and commissioning phase. The FPSO is on its way to Brazil. First oil is expected mid-2025.

FPSO ONE GUYANA – Integration activities are completed and project teams are finalizing commissioning activities. First oil is expected in the second half of 2025.

FPSO Jaguar – The Fast4Ward^® MPF hull has been safely delivered and arrived in Singapore in preparation for the remaining vessel activities. The topside modules fabrication in Singapore continues as planned. First oil is expected in 2027.

FSO Trion – Engineering and procurement are progressing in line with project schedule.

FPSO GranMorgu – The Fast4Ward^® MPF hull has been safely delivered. Engineering and procurement are progressing in line with project schedule.

Fast4Ward^®MPF hulls – Under the Company’s successful Fast4Ward^® program, the 10^th MPF hull has been ordered. 4 Fast4Ward^® MPF hulls are in operation, another 4 allocated to projects and 2 reserved as part of tendering activities driven by the strong FPSO market outlook.

Contract extension – The Company has agreed a contract extension related to the lease and operation of FPSO Saxi Batuque up to June 2026.

Fleet Uptime – The fleet’s uptime was 95.9% in 2024.

Safety and Sustainability

Safety – The Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (“TRIFR”) year-to-date was 0.10, 17% below the yearly target of below 0.12⁹, notwithstanding the high level of activity.

Fleet emissions – For 2024, the Company set a target to further optimize operational excellence on the FPSOs for which it provides operations and maintenance services amounting to a maximum absolute volume of gas flared below 1.57 mmscft/d as an overall FPSO fleet average during the year. As of December 31, 2024, SBM Offshore outperformed this target with the actual being 1.33 mmscft/d, a 15% improvement compared with 2024 target and mainly driven by a continued focus on reducing the number of unplanned events in its operated fleet.

Sustain-2 Notation – FPSO Liza Unity is the 1^st FPSO which has received a Sustain-2 Notation by American Bureau of Shipping. This sustainability certificate recognizes the Company’s efforts in minimizing environmental impacts over the lifecycle of the FPSO including the use of low carbon technologies as well as the focus on workers’ wellbeing.

ESG ratings – In recognition of the Company’s continued focus on sustainability, MSCI has improved SBM Offshore’s rating from AA in 2023 to AAA in 2024 and Sustainalytics included the Company in its 2024 ESG Industry Top Rated, with the Company ranking 2^nd out of 106 industry peers.

Sustainable recycling – The Deep Panuke Production Field Center recycling project reached completion in Nova Scotia, Canada, in early 2024 with 97% of the waste materials were sold, recycled or reused and the remainder 3% was safely disposed of. As for the FPSO Capixaba project, following the handover to M.A.R.S., the Company continues to monitor the safe execution of the decommissioning which is expected to reach completion in 2026.

Blue Economy

SBM Offshore is a blue economy company aiming to manage ocean resources for economic growth while preserving ecosystems. Using its deepwater expertise, the Company is advancing technologies focusing on decarbonizing and diversifying its ocean infrastructure solutions. Ranging from floating offshore wind to offshore hydrogen and ammonia, SBM Offshore remains selective and disciplined in developing innovative solutions and investing in new ocean infrastructure solutions.

Provence Grand Large – The three floating offshore wind turbines that were installed by SBM Offshore at the end of 2023 for the Provence Grand Large project, jointly owned by EDF Renewables and Maple Power, were fully commissioned and started production in 2024.

Floventis Energy Ltd – In December 2024, SBM Offshore reached an agreement with Cierco Energy to sell its shares in the joint venture company Floventis Energy Ltd, thus transferring the ownership of both Cademo and Llŷr Floating Wind projects to Cierco Energy. As planned, following the advancement of these pioneering projects and acquiring valuable knowledge in the offshore wind market, the Company will continue to concentrate its efforts on the remaining two larger scale projects in its portfolio.

emissionZERO^®program – SBM Offshore continues to address FPSO emissions reduction through its emissionZERO^® program and is offering a market-ready near zero emission FPSO for 2025, featuring advanced technologies such as carbon capture, combined cycle gas turbines and deepwater intake risers.

Carbon Capture Module – SBM Offshore has been awarded a contract by Petrobras to qualify SBM’s Carbon Capture Module technology for FPSOs. The Carbon Capture Module for post combustion removal of CO₂ from gas turbine exhaust gasses on FPSO’s has been developed in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Blue Power Hub – With the aim to decarbonize the offshore power generation sector, SBM Offshore signed in December 2024 an investment agreement with the Norwegian company Ocean-Power AS to develop and commercialize offshore power generation units with CO₂ capture and storage. This investment has been completed in early 2025.

Capital allocation and Shareholder Returns

The Company’s shareholder returns policy is to maintain a stable annual cash return to shareholders which grows over time, with flexibility for the Company to make such cash return in the form of a cash dividend and the repurchase of shares. Determination of the annual cash return is based on the Company’s assessment of its underlying cash flow position. The Company prioritizes a stable cash distribution to shareholders and funding of growth projects, with the option to apply surplus capital towards incremental cash returns to shareholders.

As a result, following review of its cash flow position and forecast, the Company intends to pay US$1.59 per share through a proposed US$155m dividend⁵ (EUR150 million equivalent or US$0.88 per share⁴) and US$150 million (EUR141 million equivalent) share repurchase program⁶. This represents an increase of 30% compared with 2024. The objective of the share buyback program would be to reduce share capital and provide shares for regular management and employee share programs (maximum US$25 million). Shares repurchased as part of the cash return will be cancelled.

The share repurchase program will be launched after the current share repurchase program has ended. The dividend will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting on April 9, 2025.

Guidance

The Company’s 2025 Directional revenue guidance is above US$4.9 billion of which above US$2.2 billion is expected from the Lease and Operate segment and around US$2.7 billion from the Turnkey segment.

2025 Directional EBITDA guidance is around US$1.55 billion for the Company.

Conference Call

SBM Offshore has scheduled a conference call together with a webcast, which will be followed by a Q&A session, to discuss the Full Year 2024 Earnings release.

The event is scheduled for Thursday February 20, 2025, at 10.00 AM (CET) and will be hosted by Øivind Tangen (CEO) and Douglas Wood (CFO).

Interested parties are invited to register prior the call using the link: Full Year 2024 Earnings Conference Call

Please note that the conference call can only be accessed with a personal identification code, which is sent to you by email after completion of the registration.

The live webcast will be available at: Full Year 2024 Earnings Webcast

A replay of the webcast, which is available shortly after the call, can be accessed using the same link.

Corporate Profile

SBM Offshore is the world’s deepwater ocean-infrastructure expert. Through the design, construction, installation, and operation of offshore floating facilities, we play a pivotal role in a just transition. By advancing our core, we deliver cleaner, more efficient energy production. By pioneering more, we unlock new markets within the blue economy.

More than 7,800 SBMers collaborate worldwide to deliver innovative solutions as a responsible partner towards a sustainable future, balancing ocean protection with progress.

For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com.

Financial Calendar	Date	Year
Annual General Meeting	April 9	2025
First Quarter 2025 Trading Update	May 15	2025
Half Year 2025 Earnings	August 7	2025
Third Quarter 2025 Trading Update	November 13	2025
Full Year 2025 Earnings	February 26	2026

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Wouter Holties
Corporate Finance & Investor Relations Manager

Media Relations

Giampaolo Arghittu
Head of External Relations

Market Abuse Regulation

This press release may contain inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

Disclaimer

Some of the statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or events to differ materially from those in such statements. These statements may be identified by words such as ‘expect’, ‘should’, ‘could’, ‘shall’ and / or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal risks which could affect the future operations of SBM Offshore N.V. are described in the ‘Impacts, Risks and Opportunities’ section of the 2024 Annual Report.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and performance of the Company’s business may vary materially and adversely from the forward-looking statements described in this release. SBM Offshore does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any industry information or forward-looking statements set forth in this release to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

This release contains certain alternative performance measures (APMs) as defined by the ESMA guidelines which are not defined under IFRS. Further information on these APMs is included in the 2024 Annual Report, available on our website Annual Reports – SBM Offshore.

Nothing in this release shall be deemed an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V. directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this release “SBM Offshore” and “SBM” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to SBM Offshore N.V. and its subsidiaries in general. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

“SBM Offshore^®“, the SBM logomark, “Fast4Ward^®”, “emissionZERO^®” and “F4W^®” are proprietary marks owned by SBM Offshore.

¹ Directional reporting, presented in the Financial Statements under section 4.3.2 Operating Segments and Directional Reporting, represents a pro-forma accounting policy, which treats all lease contracts as operating leases and consolidates all co-owned investees related to lease contracts on a proportional basis based on percentage of ownership. This explanatory note relates to all Directional reporting in this document.
² Based on the number of shares outstanding and exchange rate EUR/US$ of 1.039 at December 31, 2024.

³ Reflects a pro-forma view of the Company’s Directional backlog and expected net cash from Turnkey, Lease and Operate and Build Operate Transfer sales after tax and debt service.
⁴ Based on the number of shares outstanding at December 31, 2024. Dividend amount per share depends on number of shares entitled to dividend.
⁵ Equivalent of EUR150 million based on the EUR/US$ exchange rate on February 11, 2025. Dividends will be paid in Euro provided that the minimum Euro dividend shall amount to EUR150 million.
⁶ Including maximum US$25 million for management and employee share plans.

⁷ Numbers may not add up due to rounding.
⁸ Project delivery not disclosed by the client.

⁹ Measured per 200,000 work hours.

Attachment

SBM Offshore Full Year 2024 Earnings

The MIL Network –

February 20, 2025

MIL-Evening Report: With Whyalla steelworks forced into administration, Australia has crucial decisions to make on the future of its steel industry

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Geoffrey Brooks, Professor of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology

Alex Cimbal/Shutterstock

Whyalla is a proud steel town. The steelworks physically dominates the townscape, and most jobs in the town are either directly at the steelworks or heavily reliant on it.

In recent months, however, the steelworks have lurched from one setback to another, from serious technical problems that forced shutdowns to rising debts owed to suppliers and the state government.

On Wednesday, the South Australian government forced Whyalla steelworks into administration. To do so, it quickly passed amendments to the Whyalla Steelworks Act. Current owner GFG Alliance will no longer operate the site.

For me, someone intimately involved in the steel industry, the news that the steelworks has been put into administration is not a shock. This has been coming for some time.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled a A$2.4 billion rescue package.

A portion of this money will be used to address immediate debt issues and keep the plant afloat. But $1.9 billion has been earmarked for major, long-term infrastructure upgrades under a new owner.

The next steps will be crucial if this vital component of Australia’s manufacturing infrastructure – and heart of the town of Whyalla – is to survive.

How we got here

Whyalla’s steelworks was founded by BHP and opened in 1941, originally concentrating on ship building. It later transitioned to producing structural and rail products during the 1970s and ‘80s.

After the steel division was spun out of BHP in 2000, the steelworks operated under the OneSteel banner, which was renamed Arrium in 2012.

The plant has been in decline for a couple of decades. Its products have had difficulty competing against overseas imports and there have been issues with the scale of production and costs.

GFG Alliance took over Whyalla’s struggling steelworks in 2017, to great fanfare and optimism.

GFG is led by Indian-born British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta, who owns steel plants across the world. Until recently, he was a relatively unknown figure in the steel industry, but rapidly built up a steel empire after buying his first major steel plant in the UK in 2013.

Gupta’s business practices have recently drawn close scrutiny from regulators in the UK, particularly the financing arrangements for several of his businesses. GFG’s largest lender, Greensill Capital, collapsed in 2021.

A failure to turn things around

Upon purchasing the plant in 2017, GFG promised to invest in upgrading the equipment and move the steelworks towards “green” steel production.

But these investments never materialised, and the operations have continued to lose money. There have also been significant operational issues over the past year, resulting in months of no production.

These challenges have been compounded by what appears to be poor management of key equipment in the plant, particularly the blast furnace.

The steelworks has been beset by technical issues over the past year.
Adwo/Shutterstock

Keeping blast furnaces running smoothly is one most important technical issues facing any steelmaker.

A string of recent breakdowns, resulting in major production shutdowns in 2024, does not reflect well on GFG.

On Wednesday, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state government had been forced to step in, given debts of more than $300 million owed by GFG and reports workers weren’t being paid.

Still a valuable asset

The town of Whyalla will be watching the outcome of the state and federal governments’ rescue plan with bated breath. If it’s not to be GFG, who should be trusted with taking over and running the steelworks?

In such times, it is worth pointing out some of the key advantages of the plant that could make it an attractive asset to prospective owners.

Whyalla has good port facilities, a major iron ore deposit (Middleback Range) nearby, and abundant renewable energy.

It also has an experienced and trained workforce, with established product lines that are in demand (particularly rail steel).

Bluescope has been touted as one potential new owner. But there is also likely to be foreign interest, given the potential for linking steel production to renewable energy in Whyalla.

Taking Whyalla into the future

The current scale of the Whyalla steelworks, about 1.2 million tonnes of raw steel per year, is simply too small to be competitive. It is operating in a market where plants producing more than 3 million tonnes per year are common.

The plant’s product range could be broadened and raised in value by investing in key steelmaking equipment.

The general shift towards green production routes also presents opportunities for Whyalla. The local abundance of solar energy is likely to be a significant advantage for the plant’s future.

However, converting from the plant from its current coal-based technology to non-coal based technology (such as hydrogen ironmaking) will take significant investment and technical skill.

Whyalla is close to iron ore deposits in the Middleback Range.
Adwo/Shutterstock

Opportunities for Australia

Could Australia simply let the steelworks shut down and import its rail steel instead?

That would draw parallels with Australia’s car manufacturing sector, which the government ultimately allowed to collapse. But I believe this position is unlikely to attract much support.

For one, there would be an enormous human cost to the people of Whyalla. The town of 20,000 people would be economically devastated by the plant’s closure.

There’s also a fear such a move would further weaken Australia’s ability to generate long-term wealth. Historically, the steel industry has been an important generator of long-term jobs and national wealth.

And it would certainly be demoralising for our manufacturing sector. Australia has plentiful ore, energy and a huge railway network. We should be able to run a sustainable steel plant specialising in rail and structural steel.

All these challenges need investment and strong technical leadership. The decisions taken by the state and federal government in the next few months will be vital for Whyalla’s future.

Geoffrey Brooks receives funding from the HILT CRC, ARC Steel Innovation Hub and Victorian Hydrogen Hub for fundamental research into steelmaking. The Liberty GFG company and other steel companies financially invest into these research bodies and directly support some of his steelmaking research. He is also the Chairman of the Association of Iron and Steel Technology Australian and New Zealand Chapter. This organisation organises conferences and seminars on steelmaking topics. His activity in this Chapter is on a voluntary basis.

– ref. With Whyalla steelworks forced into administration, Australia has crucial decisions to make on the future of its steel industry – https://theconversation.com/with-whyalla-steelworks-forced-into-administration-australia-has-crucial-decisions-to-make-on-the-future-of-its-steel-industry-250317

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: National Energy Dominance Council Paves Way for Unleashing American Energy

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
Last week, President Donald J. Trump established the National Energy Dominance Council — a cornerstone in the Trump Administration’s pursuit of unleashing American energy. Led by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, the Council will play a key role in the Trump Administration’s work to lower energy prices, meet the rising demand for affordable energy, strengthen economic security, and ensure the American energy industry is best positioned as a global leader over the next century.
The move was hailed by lawmakers, workers, and industry:
House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY): “Energy security is national security. By utilizing our domestic energy resources to create baseload power, we can lower prices, secure our grid, and provide the energy needed to grow manufacturing, heat our homes, and fill our gas tanks. The creation of this council under the leadership of Secretary Wright and Secretary Burgum is a strong step toward securing our energy future, and ensuring we have the resources necessary to meet the demands that AI will place on our grid. President Trump is continuing to fulfill his promise to the American people to return our nation to energy dominance, and I look forward to working together to achieve that goal.”
American Exploration and Production Council: “Our nation is stronger, more secure, and more prosperous when America is the world leader in energy production, and AXPC applauds the Trump administration’s recognition that a whole of government approach is necessary to address the challenges related to American energy dominance. Sound energy policy across agencies will support our ability to meet rising national and global demand for affordable, reliable energy. We will continue to work with Congress and the Trump administration and the new National Energy Dominance Council on sensible, durable policies that allow American energy companies to continue to innovate and produce the energy America needs.”
North America’s Building Trades Unions: “North America’s Building Trades Unions look forward to engaging with the National Energy Dominance Council recently established by the White House. This effort, chaired by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and vice-chaired by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, comes at a critical moment for our nation. As our country’s energy demands continue to rise and we work to meet the needs of artificial intelligence, confront rising adversarial powers, and provide our citizenry with stable and affordable energy, we at NABTU are ready to meet the moment. The men and women of the Building Trades have built the existing energy infrastructure of this nation and are eager to partner with this Council to provide the highly skilled workforce necessary to advance America’s all-of-the-above energy strategy and bring about the next generation of expanded, domestic and affordable power supply.”
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson: “We are thrilled that President Trump has established the National Energy Dominance Council to tackle some of the biggest energy policy challenges facing our nation. Electricity demand is skyrocketing, yet due to bad policy decisions, always-available baseload power is being forced to retire before it can be reliably replaced. As a result, much of the country faces an increased risk of energy shortfalls over the next decade. Under the leadership of Chairman Doug Burgum and Vice Chairman Chris Wright, the Council is perfectly positioned to address the growing threats to reliable and affordable power. We believe the Executive Order’s focus on improving key processes, including those for permitting, producing and distributing American energy, is exactly the right place to start.”
United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters General President Mark McManus: “The men and women of the United Association are the best trained and most highly skilled craftspeople in the energy industry, and for generations we have built the critical infrastructure that delivers affordable domestic energy to our homes and businesses across the nation. We are now poised to deliver the next generation of energy production at this critical point in our nation’s history, but all too often government red tape and environmental activist groups stand in the way of these good paying and family-sustaining jobs. We look forward to working with President Trump and the new National Energy Dominance Council to cut government red tape and modernize our permitting processes to boost domestic production of critical energy like oil, gas, hydrogen, carbon capture, and nuclear, and to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy.”
Power The Future Executive Director Daniel Turner: “The National Energy Dominance Council is a long-overdue course correction that prioritizes American energy workers, revitalizes domestic production, and ensures affordability for families. The NEDC has the opportunity to right the many wrongs of the Biden administration’s failures by working alongside the private sector to create policies that increase production, drive down costs, and protect the environment. By cutting through burdensome regulations and anti-energy mandates, the NEDC will unleash America’s full energy potential and pave the way for an era of prosperity, affordability, and innovation.”
National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons: “President Trump is moving quickly to unleash America’s full energy potential by establishing the National Energy Dominance Council, setting America up to lead on energy and secure our energy independence. This action demonstrates President Trump and his administration’s commitment to ensuring manufacturers have the energy they need to drive economic growth. […] The National Energy Dominance Council, under the leadership of Interior Secretary Burgum and Energy Secretary Wright, will help power the future of manufacturing in America because when manufacturing wins, America wins.”
Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis: “This is welcome news. Unlike the previous administration, which increased US reliance on oil imports from OPEC and critical minerals from China by rigging domestic markets against reliable energy from fossil fuels, President Trump seeks to emancipate all sources of reliable American energy to compete in domestic and overseas markets. The president also seeks to accelerate the permitting of new energy infrastructure, including the power plants needed to support hundreds of new data centers and US leadership in artificial intelligence. President Trump is correct that clearing away impediments to America’s global leadership in energy production and exports will lower energy prices, enhance US economic security, create millions of new well-paying jobs, and strengthen US competitiveness in advanced technologies such as AI.”
Growth Energy: “#ICYMI last week @POTUS established the National Energy Dominance Council, noting that #biofuels ‘reduce our dependency on foreign imports, and grow our economy’ – #ethanol producers are ready to deliver for American consumers and the president’s priorities!”
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council: “The National Energy Dominance Council is greatly needed to promptly reduce onerous barriers and rules that work against an abundant energy supply. Rather than federal government agencies finding ways to expand their regulatory turf and stymie the energy sector, the Council is tasked with reducing outdated red tape and moving with speed on recommendations and action, which will facilitate the significant investment needed for big projects. A modern regulatory system and commitment to U.S. energy supremacy will generate quality jobs, economic vibrancy and growth, and innovations that will yield efficiencies and cleaner energy. As both energy consumers and as significant players in the U.S. energy sector, small businesses will greatly benefit. SBE Council thanks President Trump for prioritizing this critical sector and for his commitment to more affordable, reliable and abundant energy for America.”
Americans for Prosperity: “Coupled with earlier Executive Orders signed by President Trump, with this Order, the current administration is well on its way in laying the groundwork for a future where energy abundance can become a reality. Americans for Prosperity applauds President Trump’s actions in this Executive Order and anticipates a bright future for energy production in this country.”

MIL OSI USA News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Traumatic brain injuries have toxic effects that last weeks after initial impact − an antioxidant material reduces this damage in mice

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Aaron Priester, Postdoctoral Fellow in Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Brain damage can release harmful chemicals such as free radicals that cause further damage. fatido/E+ via Getty Images

Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability in the world. Blunt force trauma to the brain, often from a bad fall or traffic accident, accounts for the deaths of over 61,000 Americans each year. Over 80,000 will develop some long-term disability.

While much of the physical brain damage occurs instantly – called the primary stage of injury – additional brain damage can result from the destructive chemical processes that arise in the body minutes to days to weeks following initial impact. Unlike the primary stage of injury, this secondary stage could potentially be prevented by targeting the molecules driving damage.

I am a materials science engineer, and my colleagues and I are working to design treatments to neutralize the harm of secondary traumatic brain injury and reduce neurodegeneration. We designed a new material that could target and neutralize brain-damaging molecules in mice, improving their cognitive recovery and offering a potential new treatment for people.

Biochemical fallout

The primary stage of traumatic brain injury can severely damage and even destroy the blood-brain barrier – an interface protecting the brain by limiting what can enter it.

Disruption of this barrier triggers damaged neurons or the immune system to release certain chemicals that result in destructive biochemical processes. One process called excitotoxicity occurs when too many calcium ions are allowed into neurons, activating enzymes that fragment DNA and damage cells, causing death. Another process, neuroinflammation, results from the activation of cells called microglia that can trigger inflammation in damaged areas of the brain.

Traumatic brain injury can result in long-term damage.
stockdevil/iStock via Getty Images Plus

These secondary phase processes also produce harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. These molecules, which include free radicals, chemically modify and deform essential proteins in cells, rendering them useless. They can also break DNA strands, leading to potentially damaging genetic mutations.

If left unchecked, harm from this oxidative stress can have devastating consequences for long-term health and neurocognitive recovery. Researchers have linked the biochemical changes and byproducts resulting from this cascade of damaging molecules to the development of long-term neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, among others.

However, compounds called antioxidants can target this oxidative stress and improve long-term neurocognitive recovery by chemically interacting with reactive oxygen species in a way that can neutralize their damaging properties.

Finding the ideal antioxidant

My team and I studied whether an antioxidant called a thiol group could help treat traumatic brain injury.

Thiol groups are chemical compounds that contain a sulfur atom bound to a hydrogen atom. Sulfur atoms are much larger than hydrogen atoms, which means the sulfur atom in a thiol has a strong pull on a hydrogen atom’s lone electron. This weakens the bond between the hydrogen and its electron, allowing the hydrogen to easily give up its electron to other atoms.

As a result, thiols readily interact with many different reactive oxygen species, including the ones that damage DNA. We chose thiols not only for their antioxiant properties, but also for their ability to bind to and neutralize other brain-damaging molecules called lipid peroxidation products. These neurotoxic compounds are formed as byproducts when reactive oxygen species damage fats in the body.

To get these thiols into the body, we incorporated them into materials called polymers. These are long chains of organic molecules made of individual units called monomers. To get the monomers to link together, a lone electron – or free radical – initiates a bond with a monomer, triggering a chain reaction. Think of this process like knocking down a series of dominoes: The push of your hand (the free radical in this instance) hits a domino (the monomer) and subsequently knocks down the rest of the dominoes to form a line (the polymer).

Polymers are long chains of the same molecule, over and over again.

Because thiols can inhibit this process of polymerization, we had to make a monomer with a so-called protecting group that can be chemically removed after polymerization to become our thiols. Since a-lipoic acid, a common supplement found in pharmacies, contains such a protecting thiol group, we used it to make our monomer.

We then made a chain of these monomers with RAFT, a controlled process by which polymers can be designed to leave the body through the urine. To do this, a water-soluble co-monomer can be added into the chain, allowing the polymer to dissolve in the bloodstream.

Finally, we treated the polymers to remove the protecting group, producing thiol polymers ready for further testing.

Testing on TBI

Next, we tested how well our thiol polymers neutralized reactive oxygen species.

First, we used a technique called UV-visible spectrophotometry, which shines a laser into a cell sample containing both our polymer and brain-damaging molecules. If there are reactive oxygen species present in the sample, the light will be minimally absorbed. But if our polymer neutralizes these compounds, then the light will be heavily absorbed. Through these studies, we found that our thiol polymer neutralized reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide by as much as 50%, and other neurotoxic molecules such as acrolein by as much as 100%, thus protecting neurons from damage.

We conducted additional tests by exposing fluorescent proteins to free radicals, finding that proteins that weren’t treated with our thiol polymers were destroyed. Proteins that were treated continued to be fluorescent, indicating that our thiol polymer neutralized the free radical and protected the protein.

Lastly, we injected the thiol polymers into mice with traumatic brain injury. Brain scans showed that our polymer not only successfully concentrated in the damaged area of the brain but also provided immediate protection from further injury. Our thiol polymer was able to reduce reactive oxygen species in injured mice to just 3% over the normal levels found in uninjured mice. Untreated mice with traumatic brain injury had a 45% increase compared with uninjured mice.

Future work on thiol polymers

Our findings suggest that these thiol polymers may serve as a potential treatment for the secondary stage of traumatic brain injury. Further testing can help determine whether this material could potentially reduce the risk of long-term disability.

We are currently developing a cheap process to incorporate thiols with tiny nanoparticles. This may help increase the number of thiols in the material while also improving its ability to circulate in the bloodstream for longer protection.

Many additional studies in animals are needed to confirm the effectiveness of our material in treating traumatic brain injury. If our results continue to be positive, we aim to test the effectiveness of our material in people through clinical trials. We hope these treatments could improve the long-term outcomes for victims of car crashes, falls or even sport-related injuries to the brain.

Aaron Priester received funding from the NIH.

– ref. Traumatic brain injuries have toxic effects that last weeks after initial impact − an antioxidant material reduces this damage in mice – https://theconversation.com/traumatic-brain-injuries-have-toxic-effects-that-last-weeks-after-initial-impact-an-antioxidant-material-reduces-this-damage-in-mice-247655

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: University takes leading role in boosting UK hydrogen distribution network A project that will help establish a sustainable distribution network of hydrogen in Scotland and across the UK has got underway at the University of Aberdeen.

Source: University of Aberdeen

New Materials and Methods for Hydrogen Transportation and Storage: Repurposing the Economic Future of the North Sea (MHYSTIC) will see existing energy asset and skills used to develop a suite of innovations that will boost the UK’s hydrogen distribution network.A project that will help establish a sustainable distribution network of hydrogen in Scotland and across the UK has got underway at the University of Aberdeen.
Led by a team of researchers at the University of Aberdeen with expertise in chemical, mechanical and materials engineering along with economic analysis for field applications in geological settings, the MHYSTIC project is one of 10 selected by the UK-HyRES Flexible Fund to advance hydrogen and alternative liquid fuels technologies.
The projects represent a broad spectrum of groundbreaking research, each aligned with the mission to accelerate the UK’s hydrogen transition and drive impactful scientific innovation. Collectively, nearly £3 million in funding has been awarded, enabling pioneering studies across multiple institutions and disciplines.
New Materials and Methods for Hydrogen Transportation and Storage: Repurposing the Economic Future of the North Sea (MHYSTIC) will see existing energy asset and skills used to develop a suite of innovations that will boost the UK’s hydrogen distribution network.
With support from international collaborators at the Lithuanian Energy Institute, industry partners including Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, ABL Group, the European Marine Energy Centre, the Net Zero Technology Centre, John Lawrie Group, Statera Energy and Dräger Ltd will also play a crucial role in developing and disseminating outputs from the project.

The characterisation methods and models will reveal detailed mechanisms of H2 adsorption and material failure at a granular level, which will result in stepwise advances in knowledge with high academic impact and will help implement hydrogen economies in Scotland and the UK.” Project lead Dr Alfonso Martinez-Felipe

“MHYSTIC is one of the only 10 projects funded in this first round of applications and will have research, commercial and societal impacts by transferring its innovations to productive actors involved in the project,” explained project lead Dr Alfonso Martinez-Felipe from the University’s School of Engineering.
“The characterisation methods and models will reveal detailed mechanisms of H2 adsorption and material failure at a granular level, which will result in stepwise advances in knowledge with high academic impact and will help implement hydrogen economies in Scotland and the UK.”
Dr Martinez-Felipe is joined by colleagues Dr Amin Sharifi, Dr M. Amir Siddiq, Dr Marcin Kapitaniak and Dr Mehmet Kartal, all from the School of Engineering; and Professor John Underhill, Director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Energy Transition at the University of Aberdeen.
“Being the smallest molecule, hydrogen is prone to leakage. It also embrittles steel,” said Professor Underhill. “Consequently, it’s essential to find new materials for hydrogen’s safe and secure storage and transportation if it is to play a role in the energy transition, something this research will address.”
UK-HyRES aims to define and tackle the research challenges blocking the wider use of low carbon fuels in the UK – funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The project is expected to run for 2.5 years.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: [Toyota Times] Logistics, Plants, Cafeteria… More and More Uses for Hydrogen, and More Partners, too!

Source: Toyota

Headline: [Toyota Times] Logistics, Plants, Cafeteria… More and More Uses for Hydrogen, and More Partners, too!

Heavy-duty FC trucks have begun operating in Toyota City. A hydrogen-powered cooking device has also made an appearance at the employee cafeteria. The ways of using hydrogen are spreading, offering drivers comfortable rides and delicious food for employees.

MIL OSI Economics –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Foreign firms to ramp up investment

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows the skyline during the early morning in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 19, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

China’s sustained efforts to boost domestic demand and reinforce supply chain resilience, as well as drive businesses toward green and digital transformation, will pave the way for deeper global business collaboration in its market this year, said executives of multinational corporations on Monday.

Despite the slowdown in global trade and investment growth in recent years, foreign companies remain steadfast in ramping up their investment in the Chinese market, they added.

Lan Qingxin, a professor specializing in cross-border investment studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said that as China embraces a new era of green and innovation-driven growth, global investors are increasingly focusing on digital solutions, supply chain optimization, high-end manufacturing, customized innovation and green businesses in the Chinese market.

Noting the widespread adoption of the advanced large language model DeepSeek among domestic and overseas users, Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said that China’s ability to attract foreign investment will be further enhanced this year.

DeepSeek, a two-year-old startup based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, has created the open-source LLM of the same name at a cost much lower than its foreign peers.

Even though geopolitical tensions are rising, global demand remains subdued and certain countries have tightened investment regulations, China saw the establishment of 59,080 new foreign-invested companies in 2024, marking a 9.9 percent year-on-year increase, data from the Ministry of Commerce shows.

Cummins Inc, a United States-based engine manufacturer, plans to increase its market share this year in key application sectors within China, including power generation equipment for data centers and high-tech manufacturing.

“Together with local partners, we will also accelerate the innovation pace on the internal combustion engine system, including high-efficiency diesel, natural gas and hydrogen internal combustion engines,” said Nathan Stoner, vice-president of Cummins.

Eager to seize more market share in China, Thai beverage company TCP Group, will commence operations of a production base in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region later this year to supply its popular energy drink Red Bull.

The production base, set up with a total investment of 1.3 billion yuan ($179.2 million), will strengthen the supply chain network, empower upstream and downstream partners, and create another important link connecting the markets between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said Saravoot Yoovidhya, CEO of TCP Group.

“The rapid response capability and strong execution power of China’s supply chain enable us to quickly adapt to market changes and promptly adjust production and supply chain strategies to meet the diversified demands of markets worldwide,” he added.

Yin Zheng, executive vice-president of Schneider Electric’s China and East Asia operations, said that as a major engine of global economic growth, China has a huge market, a strong industrial base and abundant innovation resources, while its cultivation of new quality productive forces provides an even stronger impetus for industrial transformation and upgrading.

The French industrial conglomerate has continuously increased research and development investment in China and has established a series of world-class innovation institutes in China to support industrial upgrading and energy transformation.

“We have been introducing innovative Chinese solutions and advanced products to the global market, expanding China’s impact and realizing the vision of ‘in China for the world’,” Yin said.

According to a recent survey by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, more than 58 percent of Japanese companies surveyed recognize China as a key market for their global operations, and they plan to maintain or expand their investment in the Chinese market this year.

Several factors have influenced their investment decisions, including increasing demand and rising orders. The chamber said that Japanese businesses are also more confident about the Chinese market this year, driven by an improved business environment, a visa-free policy for Japanese citizens and government initiatives such as trade-in policies.

MIL OSI China News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Annual Highlights of Results 2024: Key Takeaways, Introduction, and Bibliometric Analyses

Source: NASA

A total of 361 publications were collected in FY-24. These publications include peer-reviewed scientific studies or other literature such as books and patents published recently or years prior. More than 80% of the publications collected in FY-24 were from research sponsored by NASA and JAXA.
In FY-24, the predominant area of study for publications was Earth and Space science. The results obtained were primarily generated via Derived Results, studies that retrieve open data from online sources to make new discoveries. These Derived publications indicate a 39% return on investment.
A total of 4,438 publications have been gathered since the beginning of station, and about 16% of this literature has been published in top-tier journals.
The year-over-year growth of top-tier publications has been greater than the growth of regular publications. In 13 years, there was a 22% growth of top-tier publications and a 0.47% growth of regular publications.
Almost 80% of top-tier results have been published in the past seven years.
Station research continues to surpass national and global standards of citation impact.
This year, a simplified hierarchy map showing the nested categories of station disciplines, subdisciplines, and selected keywords is presented to represent the more than 15,000 topic key words generated by the studies.
Station research has seen a remarkable growth of international collaboration since its first days of assembly in 1999. Currently, about 40% of the research produced by station is the result of a collaboration between two or more countries.
To date, the United States has participated in 23% of international collaborations.
Of the nearly 4,000 investigations operated on station since Expedition 0, approximately 59% are identified as completed. From this subset of completed investigations, studies directly conducted on station rather than Derived Results have produced the most scientific results. This pattern differs from analyses conducted with all publication data.

The International Space Station is a state-of-the art laboratory in low Earth orbit. Since the year 2000, distinguished researchers from a myriad of disciplines around the world have been sending equipment and investigations to station to learn how space-related variables affect the human body, plant and microbial life, physical processes, equipment function, and more. Sophisticated remote sensing techniques and telescopes attached to station also observe the Earth and the universe to enhance our understanding of weather patterns, biomass changes, and cosmic events.
Investigations can be operated remotely from Earth with ground control support, directly on station with the help of crew members, or autonomously (without human assistance). The most recent science conducted on station has engaged private astronauts to advance the research endeavors of the commercial sector. The improvement of these science operations (i.e., how data is collected and returned) has led to more reliable scientific results. Additionally, extensive domestic and international collaboration bridging academic institutions, corporations, and funding agencies has produced high quality and impactful research that inspires new generations of students, researchers, and organizations looking to solve problems or innovate in emerging fields.
The studies highlighted in this report are only a small, representative sample of the research conducted on station in the past 12 months. Many more groundbreaking findings were reported in fiscal year 2024 (FY- 24), including:

Plant adaptation through the adjustment of regulatory proteins, which can lead to sustainable food production on the Moon and Mars (BRIC-LED-001).
A connection between downregulated mitochondrial gene pathways and neurotransmitter signaling dysfunction that could assist the development of new pharmaceutical or nutritional therapies to prevent strength loss in neuromuscular disorders. (Microbial Observatory-1).
The precise measurement of hydrogen isotopes to provide a better assessment of dark matter (AMS-02).
The adaptation of a permanent flow cytometer in space that enables the examination of blood counts, hormones, enzymes, nucleic acids, proteins, and biomarkers to assess crew health in real time (rHEALTH).
The behavior of oil-in-water drops in microgravity (i.e., oil drops grow over time, but drop displacement decreases). Understanding the behavior of oils, dyes, and detergents can lead to a safer environment and sustainability of emulsion technologies in the food, pharmaceutical, paint, and lubrication industries (FSL Soft Matter Dynamics-PASTA).

Fundamental and applied research conducted on station improves the state of scientific understanding. Whether it is through the examination of microgravity and radiation effects, or through the testing of countermeasures, new materials, and computing algorithms; the hard work of integrating flight operations with scientific objectives is carried out to protect our planet, improve our health, and learn more about our place in the universe.
The following pages aim to demonstrate how station is revolutionizing science through cooperation, curiosity, and ingenuity. Projects that may have begun as simple ideas are now shaping the way we think about and operate in space to advance our goal of going to the Moon and beyond.

Literature associated with space station research results (e.g., scientific journal articles, books, patents) is collected, curated, and linked to investigations. The content from these publications is classified based on how the results are obtained. The current classifications are:

Flight Preparation Results – publications about the development work performed for an investigation or facility prior to operation on space station.
Station Results – publications that provide information about the performance and results of an investigation or facility as a direct implementation on station or on a vehicle to space station.
Derived Results – publications that use open data from an investigation that operated on station. Access to raw data for new researchers expands global knowledge and scientific benefits.
Related – publications that indirectly lead to the development of an investigation or facility. To date, over 2,200 publications have been identified as Related. This count of Related publications is not included in the analyses presented in this report.

Projects taking place on station (facilities or investigations) are assigned to one of six science disciplines:

Biology and Biotechnology: Includes plant, animal, cellular biology, habitats, macromolecular crystal growth, and microbiology.
Earth and Space Science: Includes astrophysics, remote sensing, near-Earth space environment, astrobiology, and heliophysics.
Educational and Cultural Activities: Includes student-developed investigations and competitions.
Human Research: Includes crew healthcare systems, all human-body systems, nutrition, sleep, and exercise.
Physical Science: Includes combustion, materials, fluid, and fundamental physics.
Technology Development and Demonstration: Includes air, water, surface, and radiation monitoring, robotics, small satellites and control technologies, and spacecraft materials.

Facilities consist of the infrastructure and equipment on station that enable the research to be conducted (e.g., workstation “racks” containing power, data and thermal control, furnaces, crystallization units, animal and plant habitats). Investigations are research projects with one or multiple science objectives. Investigations may use a facility to execute the experiments. A publicly accessible database of space station investigations, facilities, and publications can be found in the Space Station Research Explorer (SSRE) website. Through bibliometric analyses, the examination of publications and citations in different categories, we learn about research productivity, quality, collaboration, and impact. These measurements allow our organization to identify trends in research growth to better plan and support new scientific endeavors. The analyses included in this report serve to answer questions related to fiscal year data and total publication data to promote research accountability and integrity and ensure benefits to humanity.
Station research produced in FY-2024
Between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024, we identified a total of 361 publications associated with station research. Of these 361 publications, 52 were published in Biology and Biotechnology, 176 in Earth and Space, 5 in Educational and Cultural Activities, 40 in Human Research, 56 in Physical Science, and 32 in Technology Development and Demonstration. This publication count broken out by research discipline and space agency is shown in Figure 1A. Of the 361 publications, 41 were classified as Flight Preparation Results, 178 as Station Results, and 140 as Derived Results. Because Derived Results are new scientific studies generated from shared data, derived science is an additional return on the investment entrusted to station. In FY-24, this return on investment was 39%; a 12% increase from FY-23. Figure 1B shows this publication data broken out by research discipline and publication type.

Overall growth, quality, impact, and diversity of station research
Growth: A total of 4,438 publications have been collected since station began operations with 176 publications (4%) from work related to facilities on station. In Figure 2A, we show the growth of both regular and top-tier science over the years. Top-tier publications are studies published in scientific journals ranked in the top 100 according to ClarivateTM (Web of ScienceTM)1, a global database that compiles readership and citation standards to calculate a journal’s Eigenfactor Score2 and ranking. Regular publications include literature published in sources that may be specific to microgravity research but are not ranked.
Our data shows that over a 13-year period from 2011 to 2023, regular publications grew 0.47% per year and top-tier publications grew 22% per year. Some of the subdisciplines that have experienced most growth from station research are astrophysics (707 publications), Earth remote sensing (266 publications), fluid physics (245 publications), and microbiology (214 publications).
Quality: About 16% of station results have been published in top-tier journals. However, in Figure 2B we zoom in to examine the growth of top-tier publications given their station science discipline, showing that almost 80% of top-tier research has been published in the past seven years. Currently, a total of 696 articles have been published in top-tier journals and about 53% of this total are Derived Results from Earth and Space science investigations.

Impact: Previous analyses have demonstrated that the citation impact of station research has superseded national and global standards since 2011 (See Annual Highlights of Results FY-2023). This pattern continues today.
Diversity: Station science covers six major science disciplines, 73 subdisciplines, and thousands of topic keywords within each subdiscipline. A precise visualization of such abundant diversity would be overwhelming and impenetrable. However, plotting a few topic keywords within each sub-discipline succinctly shows the breadth of science station has to offer (Figure 3). For a better appreciation of station’s diversity, see the interactive hierarchy diagram online. Note that some topics, such as radiation, are studied from multiple perspectives (e.g., radiation measurement through physical science, radiation effects through human research, and shielding through technology development). Topic keywords were obtained using ClarivateTM (Web of ScienceTM).1
Station research collaboration
Previous analyses have shown the growth of collaboration between countries throughout the years based on co-authorship (See Annual Highlights of Results FY-2023). In a new analysis conducted with country data obtained through Dimensions.ai3 (n = 3,309 publications), we calculated that about 40% of the publications produced from station research are collaborations between several countries, and about 60% are intercollegiate collaborations within individual countries. As seen in the space agency networks in Figure 4, the United States participates in approximately 23% of the collaborations with other countries, making it the most collaborative country.

From research ideas to research findings
Nearly 4,000 investigations have operated since Expedition 0; with a subset of 2,352 investigations (approximately 59%) marked as complete. These completed investigations have concluded their science objectives and reported findings. In Figure 5, we show the citation output from publications exclusively tied to completed investigations. In this Sankey diagram, Times Cited corresponds to the count of publications with at least one citation in each publication type (Station Results, Flight Preparation Results, and Derived Results). This citation count adequately parallels the total number of citations per publication and allows the visualization of a comprehensible chart. This analysis demonstrates that most completed investigations have reported results directly from studies conducted on station, followed by studies conducted in preparation to go to space, and finally by studies derived from open science available online. Likewise, results obtained straight from station receive more citations (e.g, over 46,000) than Flight Preparation (3,636 citations) or Derived results (936 citations). This pattern differs from analyses including all publication data in Figures 1 and 2.
Linking Space Station Benefits
Space station research results lead to benefits for human exploration of space, benefits to humanity, and the advancement of scientific discovery. This year’s Annual Highlights of Results from the International Space Station includes descriptions of just a few of the results that were published from across the space station partnership during the past year.

EXPLORATION: Space station investigation results have yielded updated insights into how to live and work more effectively in space by addressing such topics as understanding radiation effects on crew health, combating bone and muscle loss, improving designs of systems that handle fluids in microgravity, and determining how to maintain environmental control efficiently.
DISCOVERY: Results from the space station provide new contributions to the body of scientific knowledge in the physical sciences, life sciences, and Earth and space sciences to advance scientific discoveries in multi-disciplinary ways.
BENEFITS FOR HUMANITY: Space station science results have Earth-based applications, including understanding our climate, contributing to the treatment of disease, improving existing materials, and inspiring the future generation of scientists, clinicians, technologists, engineers, mathematicians, artists, and explorers.

References
1Journal ranking and Figure 5 data were derived from ClarivateTM (Web of ScienceTM). © Clarivate 2024. All rights reserved.
2West JD, Bergstrom TC, Bergstrom CT. The Eigenfactor MetricsTM: A Network approach to assessing scholarly journals. College and Research Libraries. 2010;71(3). DOI: 10.5860/0710236.
3Digital Science. (2018-) Dimensions [Software] available from https://app.dimensions.ai. Accessed on October 10, 2024, under license agreement.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Securing a future for Grangemouth

Source: Scottish Government

Additional £25 million to establish a Grangemouth Just Transition Fund.

First Minister John Swinney has announced an additional £25 million to establish a fund to help secure the future of Grangemouth.

During a statement to Parliament he also called on the UK Government to address the immediacy and urgency of the situation facing Grangemouth by at least matching the Scottish Government’s investment.

The First Minister said:

“The aim of this fund is to expedite any of the potential solutions that will be set out in the Project Willow report, as well as other proposals that will give Grangemouth a secure and sustainable future.

“We have made the strategic decision to support this key activity through an additional draw down of ScotWind revenue totalling £25 million, to add to the £7.8 million in our budget for 2025-26. Altogether, the Scottish Government – with a finite budget – has committed or already invested £87 million in Grangemouth.

“We need the UK Government to do at least the same and deliver a fair amount to avoid significant economic disruption in central Scotland, and to protect and promote Scotland’s – and Grangemouth’s – future interests.”

The First Minister confirmed to Parliament that an amendment will be lodged to the Scottish Government’s 2025-26 Budget Bill to allocate an additional £25 million to establish a Grangemouth Just Transition Fund.

Funds will be available immediately in the new financial year to support businesses and stakeholders to bring forward investible propositions over the next 12 months, and if necessary, beyond.

He added:

“We believe that refining at Grangemouth should continue, that this closure is premature and that it is detrimental to Scotland’s transition to net zero.

“We recognise the significance of the fact that we are now facing a programme of redundancies at Grangemouth and the impact this will have on the lives of those employed at the site. Every person, every family and every business impacted by the closing of the Grangemouth refinery, matters. Our immediate focus, rightly, is on providing those who are losing their jobs with targeted skills support.

“Everyone working at Grangemouth’s refinery is a valued employee with skills that are key to Scotland’s net zero future. We want them to stay in Scotland and continue to make their lives here. We will do all we can to ensure they have a future in the Scottish economy as we make the transition to net zero.

“That is why we are also working to secure Grangemouth’s role in that future and create an investible industrial strategy for the site.”

The First Minister also called on the UK Government to continue to work together with the Scottish Government to drive forward the next phase of Project Willow; to expedite a decision on Acorn and the Scottish Cluster of carbon capture projects; and to make urgent progress on allocating funding for the second round of hydrogen production projects.

Background

Securing a future for Grangemouth – First Minister’s statement – 18 February 2025

In September 2024 the Scottish and UK Governments published a joint plan to secure the industrial future of Grangemouth.

In November the Scottish Government also sought views on a draft Just Transition Plan for the wider Grangemouth industrial cluster.

Project Willow is assessing credible options to begin building a new long-term industry at the refinery site. A range of proposals have been shortlisted by the UK and Scottish governments, as part of a joint-funded £1.5 million feasibility study.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Supersonic passenger aircraft may be returning – here’s what it means for the climate

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kshitij Sabnis, Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering, Queen Mary University of London

The US aerospace company Boom Supersonic recently announced it has successfully tested its latest aircraft, the XB-1. The company is developing a larger plane and aims to begin passenger flights at supersonic (faster than sound) speed within the next five years, and claims it already has orders from a handful of airlines.

However, with ever-increasing scrutiny on the environmental consequences of flying, it is important to consider how supersonic aviation may affect the industry’s ability to meet its ambitious net zero by 2050 target.

The latest test flight represents an important stage in the development of supersonic aircraft that minimise their characteristic “sonic boom” – the considerable noise generated as the shock waves travelling along with a supersonic aircraft pass over people on the ground.

Boom Supersonic has carefully designing the aircraft shape to reduce this noise pollution. It did this by exploiting a phenomenon known as “Mach cutoff”, where air temperatures in the atmosphere cause shock waves to reflect upwards rather than towards the ground.

Supersonic aircraft won’t receive certification to fly over land if they are too noisy, and overland flights are essential for their commercial viability. Indeed, failing to receive such certification limited Concorde’s routes to London-New York and Paris-New York, ultimately contributing to its demise. These recent noise improvements pave the way for Boom Supersonic to progress its larger 80-seat supersonic airliner, Overture. If all goes to plan, Overture will cruise at 1.7 times the speed of sound and could fly from London to New York in just 3.5 hours.

Other organisations working on supersonic flight are making similar progress. US firm Spike Aerospace is developing a smaller business jet, for instance, while Nasa and defence and aerospace firm Lockheed Martin plan to begin test flying their supersonic X-59 later this year. There is every indication that planes like these are on their way back, more than two decades after Concorde last took to the skies.

Concorde’s maiden flight back in 1969. It flew commercially between 1976 and 2003.
Andre Cros / wiki, CC BY-SA

Shock waves increase aerodynamic drag

The key to understanding the environmental effects of supersonic aircraft is that, whenever its speed exceeds the speed of sound, shock waves form around the aircraft. These shock waves significantly increase the aerodynamic drag, and so more fuel needs to be burned to compensate for the drag force. Indeed, it is estimated that up to ten times more fuel needs to be burned by a supersonic aircraft compared to the equivalent subsonic airplane for every passenger mile.

At supersonic speeds, sound itself is a drag.
Chabacano / wiki, CC BY-SA

The cost of this extra fuel is why typical aircraft speeds have remained pretty constant at around 85% of the speed of sound for several decades. It also leads to greater greenhouse gas emissions – as much as five to seven times more than subsonic aircraft.

In fact, the situation may be even more stark. Supersonic aircraft tend to fly at high altitudes (Concorde flew at 60,000ft (18km) rather than the 40,000ft (12km) typical for most passenger jets) to take advantage of lower turbulence levels. This means their emissions tend to remain in the atmosphere for longer.

Supersonic and sustainable?

There are considerable efforts to align supersonic aircraft development with the aviation industry’s environmental ambitions. For instance, the new engines designed by Boom Supersonic are powered entirely by “sustainable aviation fuels” (Saf) which are direct replacements for traditional jet fuels that are made from renewable raw materials, often used cooking oil or crop residues. Due to its exclusive use of Saf, the Overture is advertised as having a zero-carbon footprint.

A concept image of the Overture, the plane Boom Supersonic ultimately wants to build.
Boom Supersonic, CC BY-SA

In reality, the situation is more complex. Saf is often produced from edible crops and has been linked to deforestation – the total land required to power all of commercial aviation in this way is impractically immense.

To address this longer-term problem, it is necessary to look towards alternative fuel sources. While hydrogen or electric power is being developed for regular aircraft, for now they aren’t developed enough to ensure a plane reaches supersonic speeds. Instead, one possibility is e-kerosene, a synthetic fuel generated from hydrogen and carbon dioxide using renewable electricity.

Despite all these technological advances, a supersonic aircraft still cannot beat physics. Shock waves, and their associated drag, will still exist. So, a single supersonic aircraft will still produce considerably more carbon emissions than its subsonic counterpart.

Beyond carbon emissions, contrails also have an effect. These are thin clouds of water vapour produced by aircraft exhausts, which can trap heat in the atmosphere the same way as greenhouse gases. These contrails are thought to have twice the impact of carbon emissions, or perhaps even more, so it is essential to take their effects into account. For now, we simply don’t know enough about contrails, especially at much higher altitudes, to definitively say how supersonic aircraft will affect the environment.

Given the costs involved, supersonic aircraft will account for only a very small percentage of aircraft worldwide. The overall impact on the environment, in comparison to the tens of thousands of subsonic aircraft currently in operation, will be moderate.

There is perhaps one environmental upside. The research and development activity making supersonic aviation more environmentally friendly (such as developments in fuel and propulsion technology) will likely yield technologies that transfer to subsonic aircraft too. This should help to address the much broader problem of environmental damage caused by the aviation industry as a whole.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Kshitij Sabnis does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Supersonic passenger aircraft may be returning – here’s what it means for the climate – https://theconversation.com/supersonic-passenger-aircraft-may-be-returning-heres-what-it-means-for-the-climate-250116

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Supersonic passenger aircraft may be returning – here’s what that would mean for the climate

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kshitij Sabnis, Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering, Queen Mary University of London

The US aerospace company Boom Supersonic recently announced it has successfully tested its latest aircraft, the XB-1. The company is developing a larger plane and aims to begin passenger flights at supersonic (faster than sound) speed within the next five years, and claims it already has orders from a handful of airlines.

However, with ever-increasing scrutiny on the environmental consequences of flying, it is important to consider how supersonic aviation may affect the industry’s ability to meet its ambitious net zero by 2050 target.

The latest test flight represents an important stage in the development of supersonic aircraft that minimise their characteristic “sonic boom” – the considerable noise generated as the shock waves travelling along with a supersonic aircraft pass over people on the ground.

Boom Supersonic has carefully designing the aircraft shape to reduce this noise pollution. It did this by exploiting a phenomenon known as “Mach cutoff”, where air temperatures in the atmosphere cause shock waves to reflect upwards rather than towards the ground.

Supersonic aircraft won’t receive certification to fly over land if they are too noisy, and overland flights are essential for their commercial viability. Indeed, failing to receive such certification limited Concorde’s routes to London-New York and Paris-New York, ultimately contributing to its demise. These recent noise improvements pave the way for Boom Supersonic to progress its larger 80-seat supersonic airliner, Overture. If all goes to plan, Overture will cruise at 1.7 times the speed of sound and could fly from London to New York in just 3.5 hours.

Other organisations working on supersonic flight are making similar progress. US firm Spike Aerospace is developing a smaller business jet, for instance, while Nasa and defence and aerospace firm Lockheed Martin plan to begin test flying their supersonic X-59 later this year. There is every indication that planes like these are on their way back, more than two decades after Concorde last took to the skies.

Concorde’s maiden flight back in 1969. It flew commercially between 1976 and 2003.
Andre Cros / wiki, CC BY-SA

Shock waves increase aerodynamic drag

The key to understanding the environmental effects of supersonic aircraft is that, whenever its speed exceeds the speed of sound, shock waves form around the aircraft. These shock waves significantly increase the aerodynamic drag, and so more fuel needs to be burned to compensate for the drag force. Indeed, it is estimated that up to ten times more fuel needs to be burned by a supersonic aircraft compared to the equivalent subsonic airplane for every passenger mile.

At supersonic speeds, sound itself is a drag.
Chabacano / wiki, CC BY-SA

The cost of this extra fuel is why typical aircraft speeds have remained pretty constant at around 85% of the speed of sound for several decades. It also leads to greater greenhouse gas emissions – as much as five to seven times more than subsonic aircraft.

In fact, the situation may be even more stark. Supersonic aircraft tend to fly at high altitudes (Concorde flew at 60,000ft (18km) rather than the 40,000ft (12km) typical for most passenger jets) to take advantage of lower turbulence levels. This means their emissions tend to remain in the atmosphere for longer.

Supersonic and sustainable?

There are considerable efforts to align supersonic aircraft development with the aviation industry’s environmental ambitions. For instance, the new engines designed by Boom Supersonic are powered entirely by “sustainable aviation fuels” (Saf) which are direct replacements for traditional jet fuels that are made from renewable raw materials, often used cooking oil or crop residues. Due to its exclusive use of Saf, the Overture is advertised as having a zero-carbon footprint.

A concept image of the Overture, the plane Boom Supersonic ultimately wants to build.
Boom Supersonic, CC BY-SA

In reality, the situation is more complex. Saf is often produced from edible crops and has been linked to deforestation – the total land required to power all of commercial aviation in this way is impractically immense.

To address this longer-term problem, it is necessary to look towards alternative fuel sources. While hydrogen or electric power is being developed for regular aircraft, for now they aren’t developed enough to ensure a plane reaches supersonic speeds. Instead, one possibility is e-kerosene, a synthetic fuel generated from hydrogen and carbon dioxide using renewable electricity.

Despite all these technological advances, a supersonic aircraft still cannot beat physics. Shock waves, and their associated drag, will still exist. So, a single supersonic aircraft will still produce considerably more carbon emissions than its subsonic counterpart.

Beyond carbon emissions, contrails also have an effect. These are thin clouds of water vapour produced by aircraft exhausts, which can trap heat in the atmosphere the same way as greenhouse gases. These contrails are thought to have twice the impact of carbon emissions, or perhaps even more, so it is essential to take their effects into account. For now, we simply don’t know enough about contrails, especially at much higher altitudes, to definitively say how supersonic aircraft will affect the environment.

Given the costs involved, supersonic aircraft will account for only a very small percentage of aircraft worldwide. The overall impact on the environment, in comparison to the tens of thousands of subsonic aircraft currently in operation, will be moderate.

There is perhaps one environmental upside. The research and development activity making supersonic aviation more environmentally friendly (such as developments in fuel and propulsion technology) will likely yield technologies that transfer to subsonic aircraft too. This should help to address the much broader problem of environmental damage caused by the aviation industry as a whole.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Kshitij Sabnis does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Supersonic passenger aircraft may be returning – here’s what that would mean for the climate – https://theconversation.com/supersonic-passenger-aircraft-may-be-returning-heres-what-that-would-mean-for-the-climate-250116

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI: Crown LNG Signs Gas Sales MOU with India Gas Exchange

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LONDON, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crown LNG Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: CGBS) (“Crown” or “Crown LNG”), a leading provider of LNG liquefaction and regasification terminal technologies for harsh weather locations, announced today the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the India Gas Exchange Ltd. (“IGX”), India’s first automated national level trading platform. The MOU outlines how Crown and IGX plan to cooperate on liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) sales to pipeline customers downstream from Crown’s planned LNG import terminal in Kakinada, India.

The signing ceremony on the sidelines of India Energy Week 2025 in New Delhi included Swapan Kataria, CEO of Crown LNG, and Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, Managing Director & CEO of IGX, and was witnessed by The Honorable Member of Parliament from Kakinada Shri Tangella Uday Srinivas, an advocate for building infrastructure to empower millions of households and to improve the development of new industries in Andhra Pradesh, including data centers requiring uninterrupted 24/7 power supply.

The non-binding MOU provides a framework for LNG cargoes traveling through Crown’s regasification terminal to be listed, marketed, and sold on the IGX. Under the agreement, IGX will drive market awareness through workshops and industry engagement initiatives, encouraging wider participation in gas trading. Crown LNG will collaborate closely with IGX on LNG cargo arrivals and sales, ensuring a stable and efficient supply chain. Together, they aim to unlock new opportunities in India’s energy sector and reinforce the role of natural gas as a key driver of sustainable economic growth. Both organizations will explore further areas of cooperation to accelerate India’s 15% gas-based economy target by 2030, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“This collaboration will offer Crown a unique position to sell gas to a large base of producers, traders, and offtakers throughout India,” said Swapan Kataria, Crown LNG CEO. “We believe this agreement is the first of several that will address the lack of supply for the eastern coast of the fourth largest LNG importer in the world. Together with IGX and our growing network of trusted local partners, we are excited to strengthen India’s energy security and to help make natural gas more accessible to industries and micro-enterprises across India.”

The Kakinada terminal has received an approved total import capacity of 7.2 MMTPA. Crown expects to achieve final investment decision for the project in 2026 and to deliver first gas in 2029.

About Crown LNG Holdings Limited
Crown LNG is a leading provider of offshore LNG liquefaction and regasification terminal infrastructure solutions for harsh weather locations, which represent a significant addressable market for bottom-fixed, gravity based (“GBS”) liquefaction and floating storage regasification units, as well as associated green and blue hydrogen, ammonia and power projects. Through this approach, Crown aims to provide lower carbon sources of energy securely to under-served markets across the globe. Visit www.crownlng.com/investors for more information.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “future,” “outlook,” “potential,” “project” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other performance metrics and projections of market opportunity. They involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release and on current expectations of Crown’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Crown. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements could include changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

Crown LNG Contacts

Investors
Caldwell Bailey
ICR, Inc.
CrownLNGIR@icrinc.com

Media
Zach Gorin
ICR, Inc.
CrownLNGPR@icrinc.com

The MIL Network –

February 19, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: WP.6 Fourth Forum

Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

The Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies (WP.6) promotes regulatory cooperation, standardization policies and activities which contribute towards reducing technical barriers to trade, while lowering efficiently managing risk, promoting sustainable development in its all dimensions including gender equality, climate and environmental protection and adaptation to new technologies.

WP.6 has several subgroups and initiatives that meet at least annually. The official annual meetings of these groups have all been brought together during the same week to form a WP.6 Forum and will be marked by conferences of each group on the theme of digital, green transformation.

7 April 2025 (afternoon)

On-line only

The ad hoc team of specialists on Standardization And Regulatory Techniques (START Team) was established in 1999 to support initiatives following the guidance of Recommendation L on the International Model for Transnational Regulatory Cooperation Based on Good Regulatory Practice. Several initiatives have been launched and developed common regulatory arrangements for products such as earth moving machinery, equipment for explosive environments, telecom and cybersecurity.

A common regulatory arrangement is currently underway on pipeline security for hydrogen and another has been recently accomplished on products with embedded artificial intelligence.

During this meeting, the group will take stock of the accomplishments over the past quarter century and prepare its final report in view of the group’s closure.

8 April 2025 (morning)

Geneva, H-building 207-209 of the Palais des Nations, hybrid meeting

The Team of Specialists on Gender-Responsive Standards was established in 2022, following the initiative of the same name which had begun in 2016. This Team aims at providing a practical way forward for standards bodies wishing to take a step towards gender equality through the standards they develop and their standards development process. WP.6 also seeks to provide a forum for interested parties to come together to collaboratively develop expertise and guidance which can be shared.

This hybrid meeting for the 3rd annual meeting aims to showcase best practices in gender-responsive standards and the development of relevant gender action plans.

A gender perspective on standards for artificial intelligence

8 April 2025 (afternoon)

Geneva, H-building 207-209 of the Palais des Nations and virtual connection possible

As artificial intelligence is expanding rapidly, there is an urgent need to ensure that the most vulnerable are not neglected or rendered further invisible. The databases which inform many artificial intelligence algorithms have unconscious biases which can be harmful to women. The discussions and presentations will articulate guidance which is necessary in this field.

9 April 2025 (morning)

Geneva, Palais des Nations H-building 207-209, hybrid meeting

The Advisory Group on Market Surveillance (MARS) was established in 2003 to promote global trade and economic cooperation. The Group brings together all players involved (public authorities, manufacturers, retailers, importers, consumers, etc.) to increase transparency and attract attention to the role and responsibilities of public authorities in the chain of control. It has developed comprehensive guidance and serves as a forum of best practice and development of recommendation guidelines.

This hybrid meeting for the 23rd annual meeting aims to showcase best practices in market surveillance approaches.

Challenges and opportunities of regulating products with embedded artificial intelligence

9 April 2024 (afternoon)

Geneva, H-building 207-209 of the Palais des Nations and virtual connection possible

The evolution in technology may change the way that market surveillance and associated regulatory procedures are conducted. This conference will look at current trends and the challenges and opportunities of regulating products with embedded artificial intelligence. Specific focus will centre on the common regulatory arrangement on products with embedded artificial intelligence.

10 April 2025 (morning)

Geneva, Palais des Nations H-building 207-209, hybrid meeting

The Group of Experts on Risk Management in Regulatory Systems (GRM) was established in 2010 and meets regularly to advance projects and knowledge sharing on risk management in regulatory frameworks and international trade. The Group of Experts aims at an improved management of hazards that have the potential to affect the quality of products and services, and/or cause harm or damage to people, the environment, property and immaterial assets. To this end, it systematizes and applies best practice on risk management in regulatory activities and international trade.

This hybrid meeting for the 15th annual meeting will zoom in on integrated risk management strategies and how this could be optimized when associated, for example, by a national single window.

Improving quality infrastructure processes with applied use of artificial intelligence

10 April 2025 (afternoon)

Geneva, H-building 207-209 of the Palais des Nations and virtual connection possible

This conference will consider how artificial intelligence could potentially help improve or eventually revolutionize processes in quality infrastructure (metrology, standardization, market surveillance, conformity assessment, accreditation, risk management).

11 April 2025 (morning)

Geneva, Palais des nations H-building 207-209, hybrid meeting

The START-Ed Initiative was established by the decision of the Working Party in November 2012. The START-Ed Initiative has the following two major tasks: (1) Promotion of standards-awareness in the educational establishments including elaboration of module programme on standardization, (2) Assisting in sharing best practices in teaching standards to different audiences.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of Vice-President’s Address at Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali (Excerpts)

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 17 FEB 2025 6:48PM by PIB Delhi

Good afternoon all of you. If there has been some disruption in your normal activity, because as Vice-President of the country, I take it as my prime obligation to connect with young minds and important institutions. It is from that perspective I solicited this invitation.

I am grateful that it was accepted. Professor Anil Kumar Tripathi, Director IISER, a man who brings on the table huge experience, commitment, and in his brief address he has revealed the object, the performance and the potential. Professor Renu Vig, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab University, has two distinctions.

One, she is the first ever woman Vice-Chancellor of the Punjab University, a very prestigious university. I am sure we can applaud her, and, she is the 14th Vice-Chancellor, appointed by a Chancellor, who happens to be the 14th Vice-President of the country, that’s myself. Both of us missed number 13 very narrowly. Professor R.P. Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Punjab. Have you noticed something unique here? There are three Vices. So, Professor Anil Kumar Tripathi can be happy and delighted. Unless he says that prefix of Vice does not mean vice as it is defined in the dictionary, I would not reflect upon myself. But I can assure you, Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig and Vice-Chancellor R.P. Tiwari have no Vices.

This is a unique Institution and 7 being in number. Having been Governor in the State of West Bengal for three years, I am aware of these Institutions and the seminal role they play in the evolution of the heart. Every institution is defined by the faculty, and I greet members of the faculty who are very distinguished and are futuristic in their outlook, whatever little I have gathered. We as a nation can take pride that we have an unparalleled legacy unknown to other nations. That long, and if we traverse our civilisational journey of 5000 years, we will find Bharat had been glory of the world,epicenter of knowledge and culture. People from all over the world flocked in pursuit of knowledge. That is your motto. What a motto you have picked up. Nalanda, Taxila, people came from all over the world in search of knowledge, shared knowledge and wisdom.

We at the moment are at a very critical juncture, and I say so with some amount of nostalgia. I got into the seat of governance 35 years ago when I was elected to Parliament (Lok Sabha) and had the good fortune to be a Minister. I know the situation there. The mood of the nation. Our worrisome foreign exchange disturbed Jammu and Kashmir. I saw it all around, and our government didn’t last long, not because of me. And what I see now, 180 degree difference. The nation has an environment of hope and possibility. Our global image is very high.

Leadership of the Prime Minister is globally acknowledged. And we have traversed against heavy winds. Difficult terrain. From fragile five economies to the world’s largest five economies at the moment. Ahead of those who ruled us for centuries, the Great Britain. It is a matter of time. That we will be marching ahead of Japan and Germany also to be the third largest in about a year or so. Such a jump. When I was elected first in parliament I had no courage to dream. Then that was the time, young boys and girls, where a Member of Parliament felt really an authority because he or she could give 50 gas connections or 50 telephone connections in a year. Imagine where we have come. In the shortest possible time, 550 million people of the country benefited from banking inclusions. They never had that account.

Over 100 million households have toilets. Cooking gas in every house, electricity in every house, internet in every remote corner, health centres and education centres around, road connectivity, everything is happening. World class infrastructure we are seeing of global benchmark, and therefore, as I said this morning also, no nation in the world has grown as fast in the last 10 years as Bharat. This has created a challenge. A challenge of aspirational youth. They want more. They are entitled to more because they have tasted development. They see it on the ground. They know that per capita internet consumption of India is more than that of US and China taken together, that speaks of our access to technology and adaptability of technology.

When it comes to direct transfers, a service delivery driven by technology, our direct digital transactions are four times the combined transactions of USA, UK, France and Germany. We are a nation where global entities, International Monetary Fund, World Bank are appreciating us. I recall my days in 1990 as a minister.

Our gold had to be shipped in an aeroplane to be placed to two banks in Switzerland because our foreign exchange was around 1 billion US dollars. Now it is 700 times. And not a cause of concern, and therefore, the challenge is how do we meet aspirations of our young minds and my message to young minds. Seriously, look around, the opportunity basket which for you is getting larger and larger by the day. Come out of these silos and groove that are defined jobs only with the government or working in a corporate.

Startups, unicorns are doing wonders. Let me tell you, IITs and IIMs have given these unicorns. But about 50% are from other institutes. I know the potential this country has because I have been to ISRO. Seen for myself. I have seen emerging space economy, there I came to learn for the first time when our rocket had to be put in space. It was not from Indian soil, and now we put rockets of other countries, USA also, developed countries also, Singapore also, from our and make money. Good value for money. Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan – They are defining us.

I had the good occasion to have discussion with S. Somnathan, ISRO chairman, he was till recently, now V. Narayanan. Their fire, their zeal, their commitment, very different. In Bangalore, Govindan Rangarajan, Indian Institute of Science, and Dr. Clyde Shelby. I had the occasion to see personally what kind of innovations are being done for larger public welfare by scientific and industrial research. I say so because a country’s reputation, image, power is to be defined by research.

Research is the bedrock of economic supremacy and global distinction. There was a time when we did not bestow attention on research and we thought somebody will give it to us with a price. And that someone will decide how much to give, on what terms to give but now, we have changed that. Nations that lead in research have global respect in economy, in strategy. And countries depend on them. Just imagine how far we have gone when it comes to meteorological predictions. We are one of the best in the world. As Governor-General of West Bengal, and the state is prone to cyclones, super cyclones, there was no mortality on high seas. The prediction was very accurate. Scientific prowess defines strategic prowess. Conventional wars are gone.

And we have an ancient legacy of having been researchers, discoverers, giving to the world right from zero in arithmetic or mathematics. Aryabhatta, Brahmagupta laid foundations of global mathematics. Our scientific pantheon, Raman known by Raman effect, Bose, Sarabhai, Chandrasekhar, Shah, Bhatnagar, and our former president, they define India’s research mind, orientation. They exemplify commitment to research. And look at those days, we were in colonial shackles. Raman effect discovered against colonial scepticism.

It stands as a testament to our Indian scientific beliefs. Cutting edge research is demand of the times. And the research has to correlate to fulfil the needs of the society. A research that is to be put on the shelf, a research that is for the self, a research that embellishes the profile, a research that contributes only to credentials is not the research. A research that only scratches the surface is not the research. The research has to be authentic.

The research must create a wave. It must have positive, cascading impact on the lives of the people. Industries, business, trade and commerce are driven by research. At the moment, boys and girls, we are living in times we never imagined. You are facing those times as much as I am doing. We call them Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Blockchain, Machine Learning and the kind. Blockchain for some may be Blockchain. Machine Learning may be Machine Learning only. But look at the power these technologies have.

And these technologies are known as disruptive technologies. But these technologies come with enormous challenges that can uproot us. But they come also with a basket of opportunities. And we must focus on unleashing opportunity out of these disruptive technologies. Our research has to come up to that mark. It is our good fortune that the government is alive to the situation.

And we as a nation, home to one sixth of humanity, are at the moment focussing on these technologies. Our quantum computing. There is a reflection by the director. About 6 lakh or 8 lakh jobs will be created out of investment of 6 lakh crores. Quantum computing, there is allocation of 6,000 crores and 18,000 crores for green hydrogen mission. These are the opportunities for you people. Space economy, blue economy. These are the opportunities for you.

And therefore research has to facilitate life of the ordinary person. To improve our industry, our administration. A nation of 1.4 billion and a rich human resource unrivalled in the world. If it is catalysed and activated by temperament of research, the results will be exponential, geometric and revolutionary. Because now Bharat is no longer a nation with a potential. Our rise is unstoppable for last few years.

It is incremental. And therefore, there has to be a greater commitment that research in the country is in the big league, in the Platinum category. And for that, the faculty has to brainstorm. We cannot have satisfying moments. As reflected by a Greek philosopher much before Socrates’ era, Heraclitus, Boys and Girls, now we are having change every moment. Paradigm shift.

We are virtually at an industrial revolution. Unknown to the humanity before. And if nations have to go ahead of others, we have to focus on research. There was a time in Silicon Valley otherwise we could hardly see an Indian. And there is now hardly a global corporate that doesn’t have an Indian man or woman at the peak. Our demographic dividend now requires universalist engineering, mathematics. And that is why, after more than three decades, a game-changing education policy was introduced. And that was to give you enough room so that you can go after your aptitude and distance from the package of just degrees.

I will take the occasion to appeal to corporates that they must come forward to drive the engines of research. Liberally contribute because ultimately they are the beneficiaries. Alongside the government they should be making liberal contributions beyond their CSR funds. If you look at the global corporates, how much they invest you will be surprised. We take pride in the last five years. We have increased our research fiscal commitment in the corporates to 50% above.

From 0.89% of their revenue to 1.32% of their revenue. I find it deficient. Investment has to be many times more. We take pride also because earlier things were not moving. Now things are moving. When things are moving, we notice a change. Patents have nearly more than doubled in the last ten years. But our patents must be in consonance with our demographic participation in the world. One-sixth we must have. Because we are one-sixth of humanity. And this one-sixth of humanity qualitatively is very different than one-sixth. And therefore, taking note of technology access and adaptability, we need to be in optimal performance mindset.

Imagine a country where 100 million farmers, three times a year, get direct banking transfers. Young boys and girls were not aware, there was a time when corruption was the password for opportunity, recruitment or business licence. Power corridors were leveraged by lies and agents. All this neutralised. And neutralised also through technological applications. Because middlemen have been shown the door. So when I look at your institute, Director, science, education and research, the triangle, this defines your role. Pursuit of knowledge. It starts with education. Because education as a transformative vehicle is very powerful. It brings about equality. Any one of you can have unicorn and be in the big league of industry. You don’t have to look to the situation. That yes, my father was in the industry, that’s true. We need to fight by technology. That’s the sin we are facing. So education. In education, science is important.

Because science unfolds your mind to generate creativity, innovation. And then the next step is research. A combination of these will unlock the enormous potential of Indian mind. Will make available avenues and vistas to our population. Every nation hopes to be self-reliant. But we as a nation are very large. Complex on occasions. When the nation is growing so fast, some of us, the number is very small. The traction is large. Put personal interest, commercial interest, political interest, above national interest. This can’t be allowed. This is unfair to boys and girls.

This is unfair to everyone, because if in our democracy there is someone as a class more serious, significant stakeholder in democracy and growth, than any one of us sitting here, is the youth of the country. Because as we march for Viksit Bharat after 2047, you are the driving force behind engines of growth. And therefore we have to give new dimension now. Make in India, start up India. And look at technology. It has to get into healthcare.

Technology has to get into education. Technology can catalyse that quality health and quality education is available to one and all. And if that happens, Bharat will be what it has been for centuries.Our lean period started in 12th century. Then marauders came, invaders came, recklessly destroyed our culture. They sacrileged our religious places to an extent that they put their own at the same place. Then came the Britishers who did not give us the education to rule ourselves. They gave us education and taught us history as suited to them. Now things have changed. We are much ahead of UK in economy. We have a bunch of institutions now all over the country. IITs, IIMs, Institutions like yours, and therefore we must have this ecosystem with ears and eyes on the ground. The litmus test is changing the life of the ordinary man. We all stand committed to that because that is our preamble.

We the people of India want these things. I conclude for time constraint. What Vivekananda said, “Arise, awake, stop not till the goal is achieved”. A motto which you must have. From my side I can give it to you. Have no tension, Have no stress, Never fear failure. Failure is natural. Sometimes you will be surprised, Oh he has succeeded, he should not have succeeded, take it in stride. System is transparent, there will be aberrations. Sometimes you will find, Oh! my own success is unjustified. These are situations natural to us, and then Dr. Kalam whose heart was always in education. I recollect when he met his maker. He was with the students in the North East, and what he said I quote,

“Dreams transform into thoughts, and thoughts result in action” and therefore my ultimate plea with you, If an idea occurs to you don’t allow your mind to be a parking ground for that idea because you fear you may fail. Get rid of it. Failure is a myth because there is no one who has not failed but they never took failure as failure. Chandrayaan 2 was failure for some who are critics, who are recipe for negativity. Chandrayaan II did not fail, It went that far, and Chandrayaan III did the rest. Let your innovations catalyse India’s scientific renaissance, and advance human progress because we are a country that believes in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – One Earth, One Family, One Future, that was our motto to the entire world.

Once again, I am grateful to the Director for making available this opportunity to me at a very short notice. I understand that there has been some inconvenience, I would urge that you overlook it.
Thank you so much.

*****

JK/RC/SM

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India Energy Week 2025
Source: Government of India

India Energy Week 2025

Driving Global Energy Innovation and Collaboration for a Sustainable Future

Posted On: 17 FEB 2025 6:47PM by PIB Delhi

India is driving not only its growth but also the growth of the world, with the energy sector playing a significant role.

-Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

A Global Energy Confluence

India Energy Week (IEW) 2025, held from February 11 to 14, 2025, at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi, is a premier global event in the energy sector. The event held under the patronage of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and organized by the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) has grown into the world’s second-largest energy conference.

A Hub of Innovation and Transformation

The India Energy Week exhibition has grown exponentially to become the world’s new meeting place for energy professionals, with millions of dollars of business conducted onsite, positioning it at the very heart of international business.

A key facilitator of dialogue between international and regional producers, the event provides international exhibitors with the opportunity to network with key buyers from over 120 countries across the full energy value chain. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase cutting-edge technologies that drive sustainable energy solutions, forge strategic partnerships, and explore opportunities to shape the future of energy.

Defining Achievements of IEW 2025

Key Focus Areas of IEW 2025
- Energy Transition & Green Future: Major focus on biofuels, flex-fuel vehicles, ethanol blending, and green hydrogen. India is steadily progressing toward its goal of producing 5 million metric tons (MMT) of green hydrogen annually by 2030.
- Exploration & Production (E&P) Reforms: Launch of Open Acreage Licensing Program (OALP) Round X, covering 200,000 sq. km, along with regulatory changes to boost investment in oil and gas exploration.
- India-US Energy Cooperation: Strengthening LNG supply partnerships and increasing natural gas consumption in India’s energy mix from 6% to 15%.
- Global Energy Investments: Expanding investments in oil and gas assets across Brazil, Venezuela, Russia, and Mozambique while benefiting from emerging oil sources.
- Startup & Innovation Recognition: The Avinya’25 – Energy Startup Challenge, led by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, awarded innovative startups for breakthroughs in CO₂ capture, ESG solutions, and renewable energy. The Vasudha – Oil and Gas Startup Challenge recognized overseas startups revolutionizing the upstream oil and gas sector with AI-driven solutions.
Navigating the Nine Thematic Zones

IEW 2025 introduced nine thematic zones, each focusing on different aspects of the energy sector:
1. Hydrogen Zone – Hosted by Oil India Limited, showcasing cutting-edge innovations in hydrogen fuel generation.
2. Biofuels Zone – Highlighting India’s advancements in Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Compressed Biogas, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
3. Renewable Energy Zone – Featuring innovations in solar, wind, and other renewable energy technologies.
4. LNG EcoSystem – Hosted by Petronet LNG, focusing on India’s downstream LNG supply chain and eco-friendly fuel solutions.
5. Make in India Zone – Hosted by Engineers India Limited, highlighting indigenous energy manufacturing capabilities.
6. City Gas Distribution Zone – Hosted by GAIL, emphasizing India’s rapid progress towards a gas-based economy.
7. Petrochem Zone – Hosted by ONGC, showcasing advancements in petrochemical technologies and sustainable solutions.
8. Innovation Zone – Featuring emerging startups and breakthrough technologies in energy.
9. Digitalisation Zone – Showcasing AI, IoT, and automation in optimizing energy production and distribution.
India: The Rising Energy Powerhouse

India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer, is poised for the highest energy demand growth. Under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership, the nation is advancing towards a greener future with significant investments in secure, sustainable, and affordable energy. India Energy Week 2025 will serve as a key platform for global collaboration, driving discussions on energy security, innovation, and sustainability.

A dynamic energy landscape

India’s Path to Sustainability

As a rapidly advancing economic powerhouse, India faces the twin challenge of surging energy demand while mitigating its carbon footprint. In response, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the concept of “Panchamrit” at COP 26, representing a blend of five essential elements. “Panchamrit” underscores India’s commitment to addressing climate change and fostering sustainable growth on a global scale.

Panchamrit: India’s Five Point Pledge Towards Climate Change
1. India will take its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030
2. By 2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45%
3. India will meet 50% of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030
4. By the year 2070, India will achieve target of net-zero
5. India will reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes till 2030
Conclusion

India Energy Week 2025 serves as a pivotal platform for global energy stakeholders to exchange ideas, foster partnerships, and witness India’s leadership in energy transition. As Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, highlighted, IEW 2025 will act as a catalyst for groundbreaking projects in green hydrogen, solar advancements, and exploration technologies, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. With a focus on transformative collaboration and investment, the event will shape the global energy agenda, positioning India at the forefront of energy security, technological progress, and a sustainable future.

References

Download in PDF

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Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Anchal Patiyal

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
February 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: A new theory explains how water first arrived on Earth

Source: The Conversation – France – By Quentin Kral, Astrophysicien à l’observatoire de Paris-PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité

How did Earth become a blue planet? NASA, CC BY

When Earth first formed, it was too hot to retain ice. This means all the water on our planet must have originated from extraterrestrial sources. Studies of ancient terrestrial rocks suggest liquid water existed on Earth as early as 100 million years after the Sun’s formation–practically “immediately” on an astrophysical timescale. This water, now over 4.5 billion years old, has been perpetually renewed through Earth’s water cycle. My research team has recently proposed a new theory to explain how water first arrived on Earth.

A mystery billions of years in the making

Astrophysicists have been grappling with the question of how water arrived on our young planet for decades. One of the earliest hypotheses suggested that Earth’s water was a direct byproduct of the planet’s formation, released via magma during volcanic eruptions, in which most of the emitted gas is water vapor.

However, this hypothesis evolved in the 1990s following analysis of Earth’s water composition and the discovery of the potential role of icy comets, pointing to an extraterrestrial origin. Comets, which are mixtures of ice and rock formed in the distant reaches of the solar system, are sometimes ejected toward the Sun. When warmed by the Sun, they develop striking tails of dust and gas that are visible from Earth. Asteroids, located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, were also proposed as potential progenitors of Earth’s water.

The study of cometary and asteroid rocks via meteorites–small fragments of these bodies that have fallen to Earth–has provided key insights. By analyzing the D/H ratio–the proportion of heavy hydrogen (deuterium) to standard hydrogen–scientists found that Earth’s water more closely matches that of “carbonaceous” asteroids, which bear traces of past water. This shifted the focus of research toward these asteroids.

The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter, while the Kuiper Belt extends beyond Neptune.
Pline/Wikipedia, CC BY

Recent studies have centered on identifying the celestial mechanisms that could have delivered these water-rich asteroids to the dry surface of early Earth. Numerous theories have emerged to explain the “perturbation” of planetesimals–large, icy bodies in the asteroid and Kuiper belts. These scenarios propose gravitational interactions that dislodged these objects, sending them hurtling toward Earth. Such events would have required a complex “gravitational billiards” process, suggesting a tumultuous history of the solar system.

While it is evident that planetary formation involved significant upheavals and impacts, it is possible that Earth’s water delivery occurred in a more natural and less dramatic manner.

A simpler hypothesis

I started with the assumption that asteroids emerge icy from their formation cocoon, also known as the protoplanetary disk. This cocoon is a massive, hydrogen-rich disk filled with dust, where planets and initial belts form. It envelops the entire nascent planetary system. Once this protective cocoon dissipates–after a few million years–the asteroids warm up, causing their ice to melt or, more precisely, to sublimate. In space, where pressure is nearly zero, the water remains in vapor form after this process.

A disk of water vapour is then superimposed on the asteroid belt orbiting the Sun. As the ice sublimates, the disk fills with vapor, which spreads inward toward the Sun due to complex dynamic processes. Along the way, this vapor disk encounters the inner planets, immersing them in a kind of “bath”. In a way, the disk “waters” the terrestrial planets: Mars, Earth, Venus and Mercury. Most of this water capture occurred 20 to 30 million years after the Sun’s formation, during a period when the Sun’s luminosity increased dramatically over a brief period of time, increasing the degassing rate of asteroids.

Step-by-step illustration of a new model for water distribution on the inner planets of the solar system, including Earth. Five million years after the Sun’s birth, asteroids in the main belt release water vapor due to solar energy. This vapor gradually spreads into the inner solar system, eventually enveloping the planets, which capture part of it to form oceans between 10 and 100 million years later.
Sylvain Cnudde/Observatoire de Paris — PSL/LESIA, Fourni par l’auteur

Once water is captured by a planet’s gravitational pull, many processes can occur. On Earth, however, a protective mechanism ensures the total mass of water has remained relatively constant from the end of the capture period until today. If water rises too high into the atmosphere, it condenses into clouds, which eventually return to the surface as rain–a process known as the water cycle.

The quantities of water on Earth, both past and present, are well documented. Our model, which begins with the degassing of ice from the original asteroid belt, successfully accounts for the amount of water needed to form oceans, rivers and lakes, and even the water buried deep within Earth’s mantle. Precise measurements of the D/H ratio of water in the oceans also align with our model. Moreover, the model explains the quantities of water present in the past on other planets–and even on the Moon.

You might wonder how I arrived at this new theory. It stems from recent observations, particularly those made with ALMA, a radio telescope array of over 60 antennae located in Chile, on a plateau five kilometres above sea level. Observations of extrasolar systems with belts similar to the Kuiper Belt reveal that planetesimals in these belts sublimate carbon monoxide (CO). For belts closer to their star, such as the asteroid belt, CO is too volatile to be present, and water is more likely to be released.

Building the model

It was from these findings that the initial idea for the theory began to take shape. Moreover, recent data from the Hayabusa 2 and OSIRIS-REx missions, which explored asteroids similar to those that might have contributed to the formation of the initial water vapor disk, provided key confirmation. These missions, along with long-standing observations from ground-based telescopes, revealed substantial amounts of hydrated minerals on these asteroids–minerals that can only form through contact with water. This supports the premise that these asteroids were initially icy, even though most have since lost their ice (except for larger bodies like Ceres).

With the foundation of the model in place, the next step was to develop a numerical simulation to track the degassing of ice, the dispersion of water vapor, and its eventual capture by planets. During these simulations, it quickly became clear that the model could account for Earth’s water supply. Additional research on past water quantities for Mars and other terrestrial planets confirmed the model’s applicability to them as well. It all fit, and the results were ready for publication!

As researchers, it’s not enough to design a model that works and seems to explain everything. The theory must be tested on a larger scale. While it’s now impossible to detect the initial water vapor disk that “watered” the terrestrial planets, we can look to extrasolar systems with young asteroid belts to see if such water vapor disks exist. According to our calculations, these disks, though faint, should be detectable with ALMA. Our team has just secured time on ALMA to investigate specific systems for evidence of them.

We may be at the dawn of a new era in understanding the origins of Earth’s water.

Quentin Kral ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

– ref. A new theory explains how water first arrived on Earth – https://theconversation.com/a-new-theory-explains-how-water-first-arrived-on-earth-246516

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Why is there so much gold in west Africa?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Raymond Kazapoe, Senior lecturer, University for Development Studies

Militaries that have taken power in Africa’s Sahel region – notably Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – have put pressure on western mining firms for a fairer distribution of revenue from the lucrative mining sector.

Gold is one of the resources at the heart of these tensions. West Africa has been a renowned gold mining hub for centuries, dating back to the ancient Ghana empire, which earned its reputation as the “Land of Gold” because of its abundant reserves and thriving trade networks. The region remains a global leader in gold production. As of 2024, west Africa contributed approximately 10.8% of the world’s total gold output.

But why is there so much gold in this region? The Conversation Africa asked geologist Raymond Kazapoe to explain.

How is gold formed?

The simple answer here is that we are not certain. However, scientists have some ideas.

Gold, like all elements, formed through high energy reactions that occurred in various cosmic and space environments some 13 billion years ago, when the universe started to form.

However, gold deposits – or the concentration of gold in large volumes within rock formations – are believed to occur through various processes, explained by two theories.

The first theory – described by geologist Richard J. Goldfarb – argues that large amounts of gold were deposited in certain areas when continents were expanding and changing shape, around 3 billion years ago. This happened when smaller landmasses, or islands, collided and stuck to larger continents, a process called accretionary tectonics. During these collisions, mineral-rich fluids moved through the Earth’s crust, depositing gold in certain areas.

A quartz vein rock specimen with visible gold. Mangiwau/Getty Images

A newer, complementary theory by planetary scientist Andrew Tomkins explains the formation of some much younger gold deposits during the Phanerozoic period (approximately 650 million years ago). It suggests that as the Earth’s oceans became richer in oxygen during the Phanerozoic period, gold got trapped within another mineral known as pyrite (often called fool’s gold) as microscopic particles. Later, geological processes – like continental growth (accretion) and heat or pressure changes (metamorphism) released this gold – forming deposits that could be mined.

Where in west Africa is gold found and what are its sources?

Most gold production and reserves in west Africa are found within the west African craton. This is one of the world’s oldest geological formations, consisting of ancient, continental crust that has remained largely unchanged for billions of years.

West African Craton. Wikipedia

The craton underlies much of west Africa, spanning parts of Mali, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal and Mauritania. In fact, most west African countries that have significant gold deposits have close to 50% of their landmass on the craton. Notably, between 35% and 45% of Ghana, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire’s territory sits on it – which is why these areas receive so much attention from gold prospectors.

Gold deposits were formed within west Africa’s craton rocks during a major tectonic event, known as the Eburnean Orogeny, 2.2 billion to 2.08 billion years ago. This event was accompanied by the temperature, pressure and tectonic conditions which promote gold mineralisation events. Most of the gold resources in the west African craton are found within ancient geological formations formed by volcanic and tectonic processes about 2.3 billion to 2.05 billion years ago. These are known as the Rhyacian Birimian granitoid-greenstone belts.

These gold-bearing belts in Ghana and Mali are by far the most endowed when compared with other countries in the region. Ghana and Mali currently, cumulatively account for over 57% of the combined past production and resources of the entire west Africa sub-region.

Gold bearing geological structures in Ghana. Gerhard Michael Free/Shutterstock

Ghana is thought to be home to 1,000 metric tonnes of gold. The country produces 90 metric tonnes each year – or 7% of global production. Gold production in Mali reached around 67.7 tonnes in 2023. Mali has an estimated 800 tons of gold deposits.

By comparison, the world’s two largest gold producers are China (which mined approximately 370 metric tonnes of gold in 2023) and Australia (which had an output of around 310 metric tonnes in 2023).

What are some of the modern exploration tools used to find gold?

Gold was traditionally found by panning in riverbeds, where miners swirled sediment in water to separate the heavy gold particles, or by digging shallow pits to extract gold-rich ores. Over time, methods have evolved to include geochemical exploration techniques, advanced geophysical surveys, and chemical extraction techniques, like cyanide leaching.

Geological mapping techniques are always evolving, and at the moment, there is a lot of interest in combining remote sensing data with cutting-edge data analytics methods, like machine learning. By combining these two methods, geologists can get around some of the problems caused by traditional methods, like the reliance on subjective judgement to create reliable maps and the need to spend money prospecting in areas with low chances of success.

In recent years, deep learning computer techniques have made significant progress. They examine various geological data-sets to reduce uncertainty and increase the chances of finding gold mineralisation through advanced artificial intelligence techniques. These methods have proved highly beneficial in identifying specific features and discovering new mineral deposits when applied to remote sensing data.

Another method, which I’ve researched and which could serve as a complementary gold exploration tool, is the use of stable isotopes. Stable isotopes are elements – like carbon, hydrogen and oxygen – that do not decay over time. Some are responsible for helping to carry gold, in fluids, through rocks to form the deposits. As the gold-bearing fluids interact with the rocks, they transfer the stable isotopes to the rocks, thereby imbuing them with their unique signature. The thinking here is to identify the signature and then use it as a proxy for finding gold, since gold itself is hard to identify directly.

Advancements in analytical techniques have reduced the cost, volume, and time involved. This makes it a viable alternative to geochemical approaches – the most widely used and relatively efficient method.

– Why is there so much gold in west Africa?
– https://theconversation.com/why-is-there-so-much-gold-in-west-africa-248599

MIL OSI Africa –

February 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why is there so much gold in west Africa?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Raymond Kazapoe, Senior lecturer, University for Development Studies

Militaries that have taken power in Africa’s Sahel region – notably Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – have put pressure on western mining firms for a fairer distribution of revenue from the lucrative mining sector.

Gold is one of the resources at the heart of these tensions. West Africa has been a renowned gold mining hub for centuries, dating back to the ancient Ghana empire, which earned its reputation as the “Land of Gold” because of its abundant reserves and thriving trade networks. The region remains a global leader in gold production. As of 2024, west Africa contributed approximately 10.8% of the world’s total gold output.

But why is there so much gold in this region? The Conversation Africa asked geologist Raymond Kazapoe to explain.

How is gold formed?

The simple answer here is that we are not certain. However, scientists have some ideas.

Gold, like all elements, formed through high energy reactions that occurred in various cosmic and space environments some 13 billion years ago, when the universe started to form.

However, gold deposits – or the concentration of gold in large volumes within rock formations – are believed to occur through various processes, explained by two theories.

The first theory – described by geologist Richard J. Goldfarb – argues that large amounts of gold were deposited in certain areas when continents were expanding and changing shape, around 3 billion years ago. This happened when smaller landmasses, or islands, collided and stuck to larger continents, a process called accretionary tectonics. During these collisions, mineral-rich fluids moved through the Earth’s crust, depositing gold in certain areas.

A newer, complementary theory by planetary scientist Andrew Tomkins explains the formation of some much younger gold deposits during the Phanerozoic period (approximately 650 million years ago). It suggests that as the Earth’s oceans became richer in oxygen during the Phanerozoic period, gold got trapped within another mineral known as pyrite (often called fool’s gold) as microscopic particles. Later, geological processes – like continental growth (accretion) and heat or pressure changes (metamorphism) released this gold – forming deposits that could be mined.

Where in west Africa is gold found and what are its sources?

Most gold production and reserves in west Africa are found within the west African craton. This is one of the world’s oldest geological formations, consisting of ancient, continental crust that has remained largely unchanged for billions of years.

The craton underlies much of west Africa, spanning parts of Mali, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal and Mauritania. In fact, most west African countries that have significant gold deposits have close to 50% of their landmass on the craton. Notably, between 35% and 45% of Ghana, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire’s territory sits on it – which is why these areas receive so much attention from gold prospectors.

Gold deposits were formed within west Africa’s craton rocks during a major tectonic event, known as the Eburnean Orogeny, 2.2 billion to 2.08 billion years ago. This event was accompanied by the temperature, pressure and tectonic conditions which promote gold mineralisation events. Most of the gold resources in the west African craton are found within ancient geological formations formed by volcanic and tectonic processes about 2.3 billion to 2.05 billion years ago. These are known as the Rhyacian Birimian granitoid-greenstone belts.

These gold-bearing belts in Ghana and Mali are by far the most endowed when compared with other countries in the region. Ghana and Mali currently, cumulatively account for over 57% of the combined past production and resources of the entire west Africa sub-region.

Ghana is thought to be home to 1,000 metric tonnes of gold. The country produces 90 metric tonnes each year – or 7% of global production. Gold production in Mali reached around 67.7 tonnes in 2023. Mali has an estimated 800 tons of gold deposits.

By comparison, the world’s two largest gold producers are China (which mined approximately 370 metric tonnes of gold in 2023) and Australia (which had an output of around 310 metric tonnes in 2023).

What are some of the modern exploration tools used to find gold?

Gold was traditionally found by panning in riverbeds, where miners swirled sediment in water to separate the heavy gold particles, or by digging shallow pits to extract gold-rich ores. Over time, methods have evolved to include geochemical exploration techniques, advanced geophysical surveys, and chemical extraction techniques, like cyanide leaching.

Geological mapping techniques are always evolving, and at the moment, there is a lot of interest in combining remote sensing data with cutting-edge data analytics methods, like machine learning. By combining these two methods, geologists can get around some of the problems caused by traditional methods, like the reliance on subjective judgement to create reliable maps and the need to spend money prospecting in areas with low chances of success.

In recent years, deep learning computer techniques have made significant progress. They examine various geological data-sets to reduce uncertainty and increase the chances of finding gold mineralisation through advanced artificial intelligence techniques. These methods have proved highly beneficial in identifying specific features and discovering new mineral deposits when applied to remote sensing data.

Another method, which I’ve researched and which could serve as a complementary gold exploration tool, is the use of stable isotopes. Stable isotopes are elements – like carbon, hydrogen and oxygen – that do not decay over time. Some are responsible for helping to carry gold, in fluids, through rocks to form the deposits. As the gold-bearing fluids interact with the rocks, they transfer the stable isotopes to the rocks, thereby imbuing them with their unique signature. The thinking here is to identify the signature and then use it as a proxy for finding gold, since gold itself is hard to identify directly.

Advancements in analytical techniques have reduced the cost, volume, and time involved. This makes it a viable alternative to geochemical approaches – the most widely used and relatively efficient method.

Raymond Kazapoe receives funding from the African Union and Pan African University to carry out some of the research referenced in this article

– ref. Why is there so much gold in west Africa? – https://theconversation.com/why-is-there-so-much-gold-in-west-africa-248599

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Heat pumps have a cosiness problem

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Aimee Ambrose, Professor of Energy Policy, Member of Fuel Poverty Evidence and Trustee of the Fuel Poverty Research Network, Sheffield Hallam University

How we keep warm at home accounts for 17% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. The UK cannot reach net zero emissions, and end its contribution to climate change, without ending its reliance on natural gas as the dominant source of heating.

As elsewhere in Europe, heat pumps (which use electricity to draw heat out of the air or ground and circulate it indoors) are regarded as the best way to reduce carbon emissions. But are people ready to ditch their gas boilers?

My colleagues and I spent three years researching what people need, want and expect from their heating systems by asking 300 people in eight settlements across the UK, Finland, Sweden and Romania about their experiences of trying to keep warm at home. These memories ranged from as early as 1945 to the present day.

Among the four countries we studied, the uptake of heat pumps is most sluggish in the UK and Romania. In Sweden, heat pumps are an established technology, used to heat homes outside of dense urban areas that tend to be served by heat networks, where a boiler is shared by multiple dwellings and heat pumped to each home through pipes.

Successive oil crises accelerated the roll-out of electric heating in Sweden during the 1970s. Our participants credited widespread trust in the Swedish government at the time for the successful adoption of heat pumps.

Relatively low trust in the government makes it more difficult to increase heat pump uptake in the UK, a problem shared by Romania, where, low trust in the government follows decades of communist rule during which energy could be cut off to maintain supply to industries.

When coal was king and stoves were guilt-free

We found that there were strong attachments to high-carbon fuels in many of the communities we studied – even where people were committed to a future with low-carbon energy.

In former coalfields, such as Rotherham in south Yorkshire and Jiu Valley in south-west Romania, people spoke wistfully of the coal industry which provided jobs, housing and plentiful fuel for heating and cooking, except during industrial disputes. The coal fire was where most of our participants let their minds linger.

The subsequent move to natural gas heating for most UK households, which started in the 1960s, failed to evoke the same enthusiasm. People did acknowledge the benefits of being able to heat the whole home evenly with gas central heating and remembered feeling glad to no longer have to clean out the grate, but this was a less remarkable era in home heating. Participants talked about it in less detail, for less time and with less enthusiasm.

Many of our Finnish participants, despite having heat pumps or connection to a district heating network, wanted to continue burning wood at home. This treasured practice brought a sense of wellbeing. The intense pleasure of the fireside created a sense of homeliness and enabled cultural traditions such as cooking on a wood fire, plus the multi-sensory experience of a wood-fired sauna.

Some participants worried about being considered an “environmental criminal” for driving a diesel car, but regarded burning wood as more socially acceptable. Outside of cities, plots of woodland are inherited in some families. Gathering firewood was a ritual many enjoyed and didn’t want to give up.

Nice, but not sustainable.
Skylines/Shutterstock

More affluent participants in the UK also valued their wood burning stoves – a growing trend essentially borrowed from Scandinavian neighbours. Those we interviewed in Sweden also prized their wood burners but usually only in the homes or cabins where they holidayed.

Thermal delight

In 1979, US architect Lisa Heschong’s concept of “thermal delight” held that building designers were forgetting the importance of enabling pleasure through heat. Our research participants had not forgotten, however, and confirmed that we seek the most joyous route to warming our bodies.

While the necessary speed of the net zero transition entails a clean sweep that substitutes fossil-fuelled heating for low-carbon, electric alternatives, our research shows that this may be unappealing to many households.

The people we met wanted heating options to reflect different needs and preferences. Our participants valued central heating for bringing their houses to a consistent temperature, but this did not preclude a desire for the radiant heat of the log burner on some days. They also wanted the option of plugging in a portable, electric heater when they only needed to heat one room.

They enjoyed the contrast between the intense warmth of the fireside and a cool bedroom and many regarded an even heat throughout the home as “uninviting” – something that met their needs but not their desires. The experience of different eras of home heating had taught them the value of flexibility and variety, which makes a “clean sweep” to electric heating unattractive.

These findings do not mean that heat pumps are doomed. Indeed, heat pumps have a lot to offer in terms of reducing heating emissions. What we found does indicate a need for multiple ways to heat the home within scenarios for reaching net zero emissions.

The transition from coal to gas heating is within living memory in the UK.
AstroStar/Shutterstock

Partly, this calls for innovation in home heating technology. There is really no place for burning solid fuels in a net zero future, but a concerted effort between heating researchers, designers and technologists could create a beautiful heat source that acts as a focal point, and offers something akin to the multi-sensory joy of the fireside.

The findings also indicate the need to change how heating transitions are talked about by the government and energy companies. Away from an implacable duty to switch heating sources and the need for efficiency, and towards the joy and abundance of a heat source that (in the case of heat pumps) offers four times the heat output for the same energy input as a gas boiler.

The best way to sell the low-carbon heating transition is locally, where the kinds of attachments and allegiances to heat that we have uncovered are best appreciated and understood. Local authorities are typically best placed to do that.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Aimee Ambrose receives funding from The Collaboration for the Humanities and Social Sciences in Europe (CHANSE) and The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

– ref. Heat pumps have a cosiness problem – https://theconversation.com/heat-pumps-have-a-cosiness-problem-249529

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Namibia’s Shark Island: Europe’s push for green hydrogen risks compromising sites of colonial genocide

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rosanna Carver, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Victoria

An aerial view of Shark Island and the town of Lüderitz in Namibia. (Black Court Studios)

In September 2025, Namibia will host the Global African Hydrogen Summit. The Namibian government has ambitions to turn the country into a leading producer of green hydrogen for export to markets in Europe and elsewhere. However, the lands and waters now regarded as being essential to Europe’s energy transition are tied to traumatic memories of colonial violence; especially the ocean, which is the final resting place for thousands of Namibians.

As countries around the world transition to renewable energy, an inconspicuous peninsula in Namibia known as Shark Island is positioned to play a key role in the production of so-called “green” hydrogen, which is a proposed alternative to fossil fuels.

However, the peninsula and its waters are at risk of being compromised by proposed port expansions to support the transportation of green hydrogen. Shark Island, near the town of Lüderitz, is now a campsite for tourists.

But Shark Island is also called Death Island, and it was a concentration camp and a site of genocide during German colonial rule from 1884 to 1915. The concentration camp has since been destroyed, leaving little evidence of the violence that occurred there. However, recent international investigations highlight what many Namibians have known and worked on for generations.

Germany’s colonization and genocide

In 1884, German colonizer Adolf Lüderitz annexed Namibia, intending to finance colonial rule through minerals. Between 1904 and 1908, German colonial forces killed approximately 100,000 people (80 per cent of the Herero and half of the Nama population). The genocide also affected the ǂNukhoen and the ǂAonin communities.

During the genocide, those who were not immediately killed were sent to concentration camps, where they were forced to perform manual labour, such as working on railways and harbours. This occurred across Namibia, including on the coast: in Swakopmund and Lüderitz alone, more than 1,550 Nama died.

The research agency Forensic Architecture has digitally reconstructed the camps and identified evidence of burial places. On Shark Island, they demonstrate that the port expansion “poses further imminent risk to the site.”

Attention has been given to the land-based component of green hydrogen projects including the multinational joint venture, Hyphen Energy. But the ocean, which Namibia’s development projects also interact with, is often overlooked as a space of memory, justice and relations. This is in part due to colonial and apartheid histories that erased or excluded people from the coasts and oceans.

During colonial rule, German colonizers incarcerated Namibians offshore aboard ships. They also threw the bodies of those who had died in the concentration camp into the ocean. The local saying “the sea will take you” highlights how the ocean is involuntarily tied to memories of death and trauma.

Namibians have not forgotten the violence that occurred on the land and at sea. Local groups are restoring grave sites and establishing memorials. The discussion of recognition, justice and equitable rights and access to the coast and ocean are important for Namibia’s communities and the decedents of those killed during the genocide.

Waves of energy colonialism

Green hydrogen has a central role in global decarbonization ambitions. Namibia is considered an “export production site” for Europe’s future hydrogen economy. This is due to its solar and wind potential, and access to the ocean.

Hydrogen can only be produced in Namibia if the infrastructure exists to enable it. For example, hydrogen requires the industrial and transportation infrastructure to get it to international markets. To meet these demands, the Namibian Ports Authroity is proposing port expansions in the city of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, where expansion could have implications for Shark Island and its waters.

Campaigners in Namibia are demanding the government and industry halt the expansion plans on Shark Island, and meaningfully engage with reconciliation. Among them is the Windhoek-based Black Court Studio, where Natache Iilonga, co-author of this article, is the creative director.

These proposed developments signal the continued European dominance in Namibia’s blue and green economy projects. They enable energy colonialism, where the push for green energy continues colonial injustices. European countries and industry perpetuate ecological, social and cultural harm to satisfy their own climate change agendas.

Projects and partnerships between Namibia and European countries like Germany are emblematic of (neo)colonial power relations. While these projects propose to foster co-operation, they also continue to dispossess communities from their lands and waters, and erase environmental and cultural relations.

Through “development assistance,” the German government and non-governmental organizations continue to influence economic projects in Namibia, while avoiding discussion of meaningful reparations for colonial crimes.

Read more:
Germany’s genocide in Namibia: deal between the two governments falls short of delivering justice

The land and ocean are not merely passive witnesses to colonial violence. Black Court Studio incorporates the ocean as a dynamic participant in the conversation about these violent histories, and justice and healing. Through community exercises and counter-mapping, the studio explores people’s socio-cultural relations with the ocean.

Together, the studio’s interventions are beginning to resituate previously erased and forgotten connections with Shark Island. This work also highlights cultural and spiritual relations with the ocean that persist despite this dispossession.

Namibia’s ocean and coasts are not empty spaces to be exploited for the benefit of Europe’s energy future. A deeper understanding of histories, and present day connections, provide lessons for meaningful reconciliation.

Natache Iilonga is a practicing architect with Iilonga Architects Inc and the co-founder of Black Court Studios Namibia.

Rosanna Carver does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Namibia’s Shark Island: Europe’s push for green hydrogen risks compromising sites of colonial genocide – https://theconversation.com/namibias-shark-island-europes-push-for-green-hydrogen-risks-compromising-sites-of-colonial-genocide-239549

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of the Vice President’s Address At The 10th Convocation Of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Jammu (Excerpts)

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 15 FEB 2025 4:05PM by PIB Delhi

Jai Mata Di.

From every consideration, a convocation address is difficult because the expectations are high. There is obvious belief that the person imparting the convocation address will say something novel. My task has been rendered very difficult. It is daunting and formidable because the Honourable Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has with enormous talent focused on relevance of convocation. One of the best addresses on the point I have come across and let me tell you he comes in the same league as that of chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, a former diplomat, former foreign Secretary, Kanwal Sibal.

I am sure you would bestow full attention on what the Honourable Chief Minister has imparted to you, but I have been completely pre-empted by the Lieutenant Governor, who has traversed much beyond what I had in mind, his address is inspirational, motivational and gives you a direction. His focus has been on what we need to reflect, he has as a matter of fact made a clarion call that you before us today and your class, the class of young minds, boys and girls, you are the most vital stakeholders of democracy, and you are lucky. If I may quote Rabindranath Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore has visualised and envisioned, what Bharat should do. “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.” we missed this ecosystem for a very long time. But now, boys and girls, you are living in times where you can have mind without fear because our economy is blossoming. Bharat is witnessing economic upsurge unknown before, and we are without fear because the
nation’s rise is being accoladed by global institutions as a favourite destination of investment and opportunity.

Never before in the history of this country since independence, the voice of Indian Prime Minister was so resonant with global leaders. With his election for the third time after 60 years, as Prime Minister has put him in the big league of global leaders and now India’s prime minister is not noticed, he his epicentre of notice and that is the achievement which you have. Boys and girls, another big change, which we did not have during our times and the change is you have an ecosystem because of affirmative governance initiative, forward-looking policies, and a new education policy that allows you to fully exploit your talent and potential and realise your dreams and ambitions. And therefore, those who after getting the degrees I congratulate them, frog leaping into the larger domain, have enormous vistas before them to make themselves in satisfaction mode. Make the teachers and parents proud and contribute for the nation.

And therefore, I have no hesitation in saying, I would not like to reiterate what has been said with great emphasis by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister. But for me, it’s a nostalgic moment, there are three visits to Jammu and Kashmir that I recollect. One was in early 80s. I visited places Gulmarg, Sonamarg, all places that could possibly be there along with my wife and our daughter. The second was a very painful experience. I was elected to Parliament in 1989. I was a Union Minister when I came to Srinagar as a member of the council of ministers. Boys and girls, you may not recollect because you have to look back into history. We did not see even dozens of people on the streets of Srinagar and the national scene was one of gloom.
भारत जिसको सोने की चिड़िया कहते थे उसका सोना विदेशों में जहाज के द्वारा गिरवी रखा गया Switzerland के बैंक में। and why, because our foreign exchange was in doldrums. Around US$1 billion and look at where we are at the moment. It was a glorifying moment for me in Rajya Sabha when it was declared that in Jammu and Kashmir, more than two crore tourists had visited. The aspirations of generations found wings when the constitutional walls of separation crumbled in 2019 with the historic abrogation of Article 370. Article 370 was a temporary article in the Constitution. And to young minds, let me invite your attention to two aspects. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution drafted all articles of the Constitution except Article 370.

I would urge you to go into historical perspective to know the background why he declined. Another towering giant of Indian political firmament, Sardar Patel took upon himself the task of integrating princely states except the state of the Jammu and Kashmir. But now in 2019 a big change has taken place. In the sacred land of Mata Vaishno Devi, a new pilgrimage began. The journey from isolation to integration, the winds of change have brought peace and progress. For the first time, the region experienced true national integration.

There was a demand by a great son of the soil. एक देश में एक निशान, एक प्रधान, एक विधान। That is accomplished. And what will happen? I am sure about it. Disturbance has yielded to order where we witness disorder as the normal order, we now have the real order. Jammu and Kashmir, witnessed the highest voter turnout in 35 years during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and just take note of it. With a 30-point increase in Kashmir Valley participation, democracy has found its real voice, its real resonance. I reiterate it. In 2023, over 2 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir. The result was boosting local economy. The heaven on earth is now full of hope and prosperity. It is a global attraction. Every investment proposal in New Kashmir isn’t just about capital, it’s about truth being restored, faith being rewarded.

The change is not imperceptible; it is perceptible. Perception has changed, ground reality is changing, hopes of the people are soaring. Private investment proposals I am happy to share with you worth Rs 60000 crores were received in two years. They signal economic interest in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, in this area. Foreign direct investment entered Jammu and Kashmir for the first time after 2019 with multiple International companies showing interest. The area is no longer a story of conflict, but it is confluence of confidence and capital. The opportunity basket in Jammu and Kashmir is expanding and continues to bloom. There is no need now to leave the region. The call is be the architects of this new dawn. Education undoubtedly is the most impactful transformative mechanism. It brings about equality that is need of the society. It caps inequities. education defines democracy. And imagine educational institutions show significant growth. This being one, but IIT, IIM, AIIMS establishing campuses in the region. Post 2019 is a great signal.

The change, boys and girls, with urge to have passion for a particular stream in academics at prestigious institutions, institutions of eminence in their area. The region’s first Multiplex opened in Srinagar in 2022 marking the return of cinema after three decades. When we look around infrastructural growth, the development in this area is standing out. Around thousand recognised start-ups and more significantly as I find in the audience also, amongst the youth, a gender balancing. One third of the start-ups are led by women. Jammu and Kashmir’s transformation is a part of a larger national revolution with everyone contributing to a new developed India. This is not just a change. It is a renaissance.

I fully agree with the Lieutenant Governor when he reflected the history of industrial revolutions. We are at the cusp of no less than an industrial revolution on account of onslaught of disruptive technologies. There is paradigm shift every moment. we have to content with disruptive technologies, artificial intelligence, internet of things, machine learning, Blockchain, and the kind. And I’m happy to share with the young minds that the focus which India has bestowed by way of quantum computing, green hydrogen mission, 6G, the commercial exploitation of 6G in the second phase will start in 2025 to 2030. It is for the first time the country has seen development in sea, on sea surface, under the ground, on the ground, in the sky, in the space and that offers new opportunities to young minds. Space economy, blue economy, are the things that attract your attention. Your opportunity basket, you have to focus on it. The traditional groove, the silos of government jobs, you must get detached because hand-holding policies of the government allows you to take a big leap.

Let me tell you, this day is Dikshaant, it is not Sikshaant. Learning never stops. You cannot stop learning, it has to be with you lifelong. Let me make a reference to what a Pre-Socratic philosopher said, Heraclitus. The only constant in life is the change. He buttressed it by an illustration that the same person cannot enter the same river twice because neither the person is the same nor the river is the same.

In addition to what the Honourable Chief Minister has imparted to you, I will just add fear of fear invites failure. Fear of fear is myth. Never hesitate to experiment if an idea occurs in your mind. This mind irrespective of technology of any nature, there is no substitute of this. Don’t allow it to be a parking space of an idea, experiment, as rightly pointed out by the Honourable Chief Minister. There is nothing like failure, a setback is a step towards success. Chandrayaan 3, which created history by landing India’s spacecraft on the South pole of moon, in ShivShakti point with Tiranga, owes its success to Chandrayaan 2. I wholly disagree with people who thought Chandrayaan was not a success, it was. But we believe in a mindset that success has to be hundred percent. No. If you look into historical innovations great creations, you can see. And therefore, I wish to convey to my young friends you are seeing a Bharat which is not a nation of potential, it is a nation fully exploiting its potential. A developed nation status is not our dream. It’s our goal, a definitive goal.

I joined the LG when the Lieutenant Governor made a clarion call to you. ये यज्ञ है, इस यज्ञ में आप अपनी आहुति दीजिए । सामर्थ्य के अनुसार दीजिए क्योंकि youth से ज़्यादा प्रजातंत्र में और कोई stakeholder नहीं है ।You have to drive the engine of progress. Nothing stops you because we are proud Indians. हम भारतीय हैं, भारतीयता हमारी पहचान है, राष्ट्रवाद हमारा धर्म है। हमारा परम कर्तव्य है कि हर हालत में हम राष्ट्रहित को सर्वोपरि रखें। कोई भी ऐसा हित नहीं है, राजनीतिक और व्यक्तिगत, जो राष्ट्रहित से बड़ा है।अब समस्या आती है और कई नवयुवक मुझे कहते हैं कई नवयुवती कहती हैं हम क्या करें । I will call upon you on this particular day to focus on five points in particular. Each one of you boys and girls, you can do it, and you must do it. पाँच प्रान । ये पंच प्रण बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है। इनके अंदर है पारिवारिक मूल्य। परिवार के साथ जुड़ कर रहिए, माता पिता का सम्मान कीजिए, पड़ोसी का आदर कीजिए, समाज का अभिन्न अंग बनिए, पर्यावरण की चेतना करनी चाहिए। अपने पास धरती माँ के अलावा रहने की दूसरी जगह नहीं है। जब प्रधान मंत्री ने देश को आह्वान किया कि माँ के नाम एक पेड़ लगाओ, वो एक भावना को उजागृत करना था कि पाँच हजार की संस्कृति के अंदर जो ज्ञान है पर्यावरण के लिए उसका हमे बोध होना चाहिए। अब ये जन आंदोलन बन गया है इसका ध्यान दीजिए । India is nerve center of culture in the world, no country can take pride the way we can take because we have 5,000 years of civilisational ethos. हमारी सांस्कृतिक विरासत, सांस्कृतिक सभ्यता, ज्ञान का भंडार अद्वितीय है। ऐसी स्थिति में we must nurture our cultural values.

आत्मनिर्भरता। महात्मा गांधी ने कहा था – स्वदेशी, एक शब्द था, उस समय की अर्थव्यवस्था को हिला कर रख दिया। खादी के उपयोग से शुरू हुआ। वर्तमान प्रधानमंत्री ने इसको एक नया आयाम दिया है – Vocal for Local। आपसे आग्रह करूँगा, गंभीरता से इसका पालन कीजिए। और हर व्यक्ति के कुछ कर्तव्य हैं। अधिकारों की बात हम करते हैं क्योंकि भारत के संविधान में हमें अधिकार मिले हैं—मौलिक अधिकार। पर भारत के संविधान में मौलिक दायित्व भी हैं, पर इसमें संविधान को देखने की आवश्यकता नहीं है। हमारी संस्कृति हमें सिखाती है कि हमारा दायित्व क्या है। We must discharge our civic duties diligently, और यह जब हम करेंगे तो नतीजे निकलेंगे। पहला – we will march, and the march will be fast-tracked for attaining a developed Bharat. We will unshackle ourselves from the colonial mindset। एक तो हम कर चुके हैं, हाल में बहुत बड़ा कदम उठाया गया है। पहले जो दंड विधान था, उसको न्याय विधान कर दिया गया है— unshackling the colonial mindset.

हमे हमारी विरासत पर गर्व होना चाहिए, क्योंकि ये बेमिसाल है, जड़े मजबूत है । Lieutenant Governor focused कि ११ शताब्दी के आसपास कुछ भटकाव आ गया था, नालंदा गड़बड़ हो गया था, उसका सृजन हो रहा है। But reflect back on our historical perspective and you will find we had educational institutions like Nalanda, Takshila and many more. People from all over the world took to these institutions for gaining wisdom, knowledge and also sharing it. हमारी एक ही पहचान है वसुधैव कुटुंबकम् । and that is the message we gave to the entire world. One family one planet one future. वसुधैव कुटुंबकम् G20 message.

मेरा आपसे विनम्र आग्रह रहेगा कि आपको जो डिग्री मिली है मैं आपको बधाई देता हूँ। a convocation as indicated by the Honourable Chief Minister is a milestone to be ever remembered. This moment will ever be etched in your memory. Please be in connect with people, your friends, all your lives that will be your nectar for the rest of your life. Make it a point. I would urge the vice chancellor that under the visionary guidance of the chancellor, the alumni association must be very vibrant. Institutions thrive on the strength of alumni confederations. I had indicated an idea for a long time that our institutions of eminence like IITs, IIMs, they must have a Confederation of alumni associations because these are natural think tanks. They can help us evolve policies for national interest. I am sure something will be done positive in that direction. I am particularly touched when honour was awarded to Shiv Dutt ji, Nirmoi Ji and Dr Ram Sevak ji.

A society that recognises talent, a society that acknowledges unimpeachable credentials, a society awards those where the award is well earned by the person that is a signal to the rest of the people merit has a place because we have made exit of patronage. Patronage is no longer a password for opportunity, for success. But what struck me more fundamentally was look at doctorate in literature, doctorate in science. Two are fundamental, there has to be a synergy between the two. The two have to be in sync and that has to be our historical background. If you look at our history, you will find there has been a due regard to both, so I congratulate the chancellor and vice chancellor for being so thoughtful, for such thought-provoking choice that will ever stir our minds inviting our focus. And the address of both of them, though brief, was very illuminating.

Boys and girls, समय का अभाव है । Time is always a constraint. I will give you 2-3 suggestions. One go for your aptitude. Don’t stress yourself. Don’t carry tension. Because for the first time you are living in an ecosystem, where you can fully utilise your talent, your exploitation of talent by yourself is unstoppable like the rise of Bharat. It is unstoppable now. Two, believe in the words of Vivekanand Ji “arise awake stop not till the goal is achieved”. These are words of Vivekanand Ji when you have to study who he was, he departed from mother India at what age, how he made global impact in that time zone, where travel was very difficult. May Mata Vaishno Devi ever bless you, ever enlighten you, ever guide you, and be a perennial source of inspiration and strength. To ensure your endeavours fructify and that you are always and ever committed to serving the Nation because when Bharat prospers it contributes to global peace.

I am extremely grateful to the Chancellor, the Honourable Chief Minister and Vice Chancellor for affording me this opportunity. But I am conscious of the divine intervention of Maa Vaishno Devi. माँ का बुलावा आज आया था और माँ का नाम आते ही शरीर में एक संचार होता है sublimity का spirituality का religiosity का और सबके लिए शुभ सोचने का ।

Thank you so much!

***

JK

(Release ID: 2103514) Visitor Counter : 57

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 17, 2025

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